Mark Sontag Position: Head Coach Experience: Ninth Season Alma Mater: Southeast Missouri State 1997

In nine seasons at the helm of the Northern Illinois women's gymnastics program, Mark Sontag has positioned the Huskies among the Mid-American Conference's elite, both in the gym and in the classroom. Under the guidance of Sontag NIU has sent 14 individuals to NCAA Regional competition, with at least one Huskie gymnast selected for the postseason meet in eight of his nine seasons. In 2008, two Northern Illinois individuals - Leah Johnson and Holly Reichard - competed in the all-around at Regionals. On the conference level, the Huskies were one fall away from the runner-up spot at the 2008 MAC Championships as Reichard claimed the individual title on the uneven parallel bars.The next step for Sontag and his squad is to garner NIU's first MAC Gymnastics Championship and advance as a team to the NCAA regional meet.

"Our goal is to develop this team to where we are competing for the MAC Championship and an NCAA Regional bid on a yearly basis," Sontag said. "We have a strong program in terms of the depth of our team and certainly in the classroom. All the pieces are in place to enable us to achieve our goals"

In the classroom, Sontag's Huskies already lead the pack as the gymnasts rank near the top of the NIU list in cumulative grade point average every semester. With a team G.P.A. of 3.310, Northern Illinois' squad includes 17 student-athletes with a cumulative mark of 3.0 or higher and six gymnasts with a 3.5 or above.

In the gym, the skill levels of Huskie gymnasts have continued to rise along with the team scoring records. Sontag's 2005 squad posted a third-place finish in the Mid-American Conference Championships, tying for the school's best showing. Individually, Huskie gymnasts have achieved success in and out of the gym under Sontag's tuteleage. Johnson has made back-to-back NCAA regional appearances in the all-around, and current Huskies Natalie Blum, Reichard, and Jennifer Naughton have made the regionals as either alternates or competitors. Reichard and Johnson have each been chosen to an All-MAC team during their careers.

One of Sontag's most-decorated Huskies, Kristina Campos, became the second four-time regional qualifier in NIU history; she is the only NIU gymnast to be named the MAC Gymnast of the Year, an honor she earned in 2003. She capped her sophomore campaign with a 10th-place finish in the all-around competition at the NCAA South Central Regional. In 2004, Northern Illinois sent a school-record four gymnasts to regionals, and 2005 saw both Campos and Ashlee Williams, who won the individual title on the uneven parallel bars at the 2005 MAC Championships, advance to national competition.

Under Sontag, Williams and Jody Yednock became the first NIU gymnasts named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America team - Williams as a second team choice in 2006, and Yednock as a first team honoree in 2007. Yednock was also named the Bob James Award Winner for the Mid-American Conference, which goes to one female student-athlete in the league each year.

Sontag came to NIU after nine years as the assistant coach at his alma mater, Southeast Missouri State, where he helped the Redhawks win the 1991 Division II National Championship. After moving to Division I in 1992, Southeast Missouri State made six straight trips to the National Invitational Tournament of Women's Gymnastics from 1993-99. SEMO twice finished second at that meet after seventh-place showings at the NCAA Regionals. Individually, Southeast Missouri State's Erin Chenier won national balance beam titles in the U.S. and Canada.

While working with the Redhawks, Sontag helped coordinate the team's promotions and fundraising efforts. He served as head coach at the Cape Gymnastics Center during his time in Cape Girardeau and directed SEMO's summer gymnastics camps, while also working the camps of Top 25 teams Alabama, Missouri, Iowa State and Michigan. Sontag is USA Gymnastics certified in many areas, including Safety, Skill Test Evaluator, Meet Director and Athlete Wellness. He earned his bachelor's degree from Southeast Missouri State in 1997.

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