The Hansen Parker Era Continues
May 04, 2026 | Gymnastics
SEATTLE – The University of Washington has extended gymnastics head coach Jessa Hansen Parker, solidifying the continuation of the Hansen Parker era on Montlake.
Hansen Parker, who became the program's ninth coach in 2024, has agreed to a five-year contract extension that will keep her at Washington through the 2031 season.
"Coach Hansen Parker has done exceptional work leading our gymnastics program," said Director of Athletics Pat Chun. "Over the past two seasons, we have watched her not only build a foundation but also lead us back to the NCAA Tournament. We are excited for the future of UW Gymnastics under her leadership."
A veteran coach with over a decade of experience, Hansen Parker brings a proven history of program success, built through previous stops at University of Iowa, UC Davis, and University of California, Berkeley, where she consistently helped elevate team performance, national rankings, and postseason results.
"It is truly an honor and a privilege to lead these women, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue at a place as special as the University of Washington," said Hansen Parker. "I would like to thank Director of Athletics Pat Chun and Senior Associate Athletic Director Kiley Strong for their trust, belief, and continued support. I'm incredibly proud to represent this program, this university, and the Husky community. I'm excited about what lies ahead and the continued growth of our team as we pursue excellence in everything we do, both in competition and in life. Go Dawgs!"
Hansen Parker came to Seattle after four seasons as an assistant at University of Iowa, where she played a key role in the program's historic 2021 season, helping lead the Hawkeyes to their first Big Ten Championship with a perfect 8-0 conference record and a No. 17 national ranking.
During her tenure, Iowa also reached an NCAA Regional Final and made four consecutive NCAA Regional appearances, including a third-place Big Ten finish in 2023 and qualification of four gymnasts to the 2024 NCAA Regionals. Hansen Parker mentored Adeline Kenlin to a national runner-up finish on balance beam and helped develop six All-Americans and 13 All-Big Ten honorees. Kenlin also became just the fourth gymnast in program history to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.
A former student-athlete at Iowa, Hansen Parker was a four-year letterwinner, two-time All-Big Ten selection, and three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Prior to Iowa, Hansen Parker spent four seasons at UC Davis as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, earning 2019 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Assistant Coach of the Year honors. She led a balance beam unit that ranked 23rd nationally and helped guide seven student-athletes to NCAA Regional appearances, while also securing a top-15 recruiting class nationally.
She also spent three seasons at University of California, Berkeley, helping lead the Golden Bears to three NCAA Regional appearances and a 2016 NCAA Championship berth, the program's first in 24 years.
Since arriving at the University of Washington, Jessa Hansen Parker has made an immediate impact on the program. Since the start of the Hansen Parker era, the GymDawgs have continued to elevate across national competition, academic achievement, and fan engagement.
In her first season in 2025, Hansen Parker led four GymDawgs to the NCAA Championships, with Mary McDonough, Taylor Russon, Emily Innes, and Chelsea Hallinan representing Washington as individual qualifiers.
In year two, she guided the GymDawgs back to postseason as a team, leading Washington to its 41st NCAA Regional appearance and advanced to the NCAA Regional Semifinals, highlighted by a first-round upset victory over No. 29 San José State. The team also recorded the most conference wins in five years, and posted a 3.78 GPA, its highest since 2020.
Under the Hansen Parker era, Mary McDonough and Lilly Tubbs were named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch. Tubbs also earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors, while Emma Schrady was selected as the 2026 Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree. Washington also delivered its highest team score under Hansen Parker at the Cal Quad in March, posting 196.575.
Fan support reached new heights as well, with the program ranking second in the Big Ten in attendance—just behind UCLA—and setting a new program record with 20,886 fans, highlighted by the first sellout in program history on January 3, 2026.
For news, scores, highlights and more, download the Go Huskies app on your mobile device. Follow @UWgymnastics on Instagram, X, Threads, Facebook and TikTok and subscribe to UW Athletics on YouTube for the latest on the Dawgs.
Hansen Parker, who became the program's ninth coach in 2024, has agreed to a five-year contract extension that will keep her at Washington through the 2031 season.
"Coach Hansen Parker has done exceptional work leading our gymnastics program," said Director of Athletics Pat Chun. "Over the past two seasons, we have watched her not only build a foundation but also lead us back to the NCAA Tournament. We are excited for the future of UW Gymnastics under her leadership."
A veteran coach with over a decade of experience, Hansen Parker brings a proven history of program success, built through previous stops at University of Iowa, UC Davis, and University of California, Berkeley, where she consistently helped elevate team performance, national rankings, and postseason results.
"It is truly an honor and a privilege to lead these women, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue at a place as special as the University of Washington," said Hansen Parker. "I would like to thank Director of Athletics Pat Chun and Senior Associate Athletic Director Kiley Strong for their trust, belief, and continued support. I'm incredibly proud to represent this program, this university, and the Husky community. I'm excited about what lies ahead and the continued growth of our team as we pursue excellence in everything we do, both in competition and in life. Go Dawgs!"
Hansen Parker came to Seattle after four seasons as an assistant at University of Iowa, where she played a key role in the program's historic 2021 season, helping lead the Hawkeyes to their first Big Ten Championship with a perfect 8-0 conference record and a No. 17 national ranking.
During her tenure, Iowa also reached an NCAA Regional Final and made four consecutive NCAA Regional appearances, including a third-place Big Ten finish in 2023 and qualification of four gymnasts to the 2024 NCAA Regionals. Hansen Parker mentored Adeline Kenlin to a national runner-up finish on balance beam and helped develop six All-Americans and 13 All-Big Ten honorees. Kenlin also became just the fourth gymnast in program history to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.
A former student-athlete at Iowa, Hansen Parker was a four-year letterwinner, two-time All-Big Ten selection, and three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Prior to Iowa, Hansen Parker spent four seasons at UC Davis as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, earning 2019 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Assistant Coach of the Year honors. She led a balance beam unit that ranked 23rd nationally and helped guide seven student-athletes to NCAA Regional appearances, while also securing a top-15 recruiting class nationally.
She also spent three seasons at University of California, Berkeley, helping lead the Golden Bears to three NCAA Regional appearances and a 2016 NCAA Championship berth, the program's first in 24 years.
Since arriving at the University of Washington, Jessa Hansen Parker has made an immediate impact on the program. Since the start of the Hansen Parker era, the GymDawgs have continued to elevate across national competition, academic achievement, and fan engagement.
In her first season in 2025, Hansen Parker led four GymDawgs to the NCAA Championships, with Mary McDonough, Taylor Russon, Emily Innes, and Chelsea Hallinan representing Washington as individual qualifiers.
In year two, she guided the GymDawgs back to postseason as a team, leading Washington to its 41st NCAA Regional appearance and advanced to the NCAA Regional Semifinals, highlighted by a first-round upset victory over No. 29 San José State. The team also recorded the most conference wins in five years, and posted a 3.78 GPA, its highest since 2020.
Under the Hansen Parker era, Mary McDonough and Lilly Tubbs were named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch. Tubbs also earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors, while Emma Schrady was selected as the 2026 Big Ten Sportsmanship Honoree. Washington also delivered its highest team score under Hansen Parker at the Cal Quad in March, posting 196.575.
Fan support reached new heights as well, with the program ranking second in the Big Ten in attendance—just behind UCLA—and setting a new program record with 20,886 fans, highlighted by the first sellout in program history on January 3, 2026.
For news, scores, highlights and more, download the Go Huskies app on your mobile device. Follow @UWgymnastics on Instagram, X, Threads, Facebook and TikTok and subscribe to UW Athletics on YouTube for the latest on the Dawgs.
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