After highly successful athletes leave LSU, many of them go on to professional careers in the NBA, NFL or MLB where they sometimes feel the benefits of their hard work.
However, Nicki Arnstad Woodward, a former LSU gymnast and NCAA champion, has taken one of the most unglorified positions following such an outstanding athletic career – coaching.
“My senior year I thought about continuing and trying for the Olympics,” Woodward said. “I looked at it as I’m 22 and I’m kind of old for that. Then I decided that coaching would be where I could use [my experience] to better other people.”
Woodward graduated in 2002 from the University with a degree in advertising and was married last summer to Brandon Woodward. She competed for LSU from 1999 to 2002, earning several NCAA honors along the way.
Arnstad was named All-American for her All-Around performances two years in a row, including 2002 when she finished No. 13 in the nation with an All-Around score of 39.275.
Her most outstanding accomplishment also came in 2002 when she won LSU’s first ever national championship on the floor exercise after scoring a near-perfect 9.950.
“I had set that goal a long time ago to win the national championship on the floor,” Woodward said. “When we got there I prayed ‘let me have a really good time’. I didn’t ask to win, just to enjoy it. It was my best routine and I had the best time doing it. If you really enjoy something, you’re going to get better at it.”
The Green Bay, Wis. native said she felt a little bit of pressure at NCAA’s because her family as well as Brandon’s family traveled to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to see her compete for the last time.
“My whole family was there,” she said. “I was a little stressed, but once I made my first tumbling pass my body was at ease.”
Woodward said she decided to go into coaching because she was in her prime when her career ended and she was not ready to leave the sport. She also said LSU coach D-D Breaux inspired her to go into coaching.
“She inspires me,” Woodward said. “Seeing how she was as a coach helped me see what I wanted to do as a coach.”
Woodward said it was a natural thing for her to make the transition from gymnast to coach.
“I love gymnastics,” Woodward said. “That’s my passion. Being involved in it is second nature.”
Woodward coaches the Bengal program at LSU, which is a competitive team for school-aged children. She is also a volunteer coach for the varsity squad. Woodward plans to continue coaching.
“I want to be a Division I college coach,” she said.
LSU assistant coach Philip Ogletree said Woodward is doing a great job with the Bengal program.
“The kids love her because of her personality and what all she’s done,” Ogletree said. “She has to learn how to teach gymnastics. It takes time to learn, but she’s enthusiastic.”
Ogletree said he believes Woodward has the potential to become a Division I gymnastics coach.
“She knows what it takes,” he said. “She’s been there. She has to learn how to teach skills and develop skills. She knows what the judges are looking for, so it’s a matter of teaching basics. It’s like when you try to teach someone to read. It’s not as easy.”
Ogletree said Woodward has been helping him with recruiting and is especially gifted in that area.
“She’d be a super recruiter because she has such a great personality,” he said. “She helps me quite a bit with recruiting.”
Ogletree said as a gymnast, Woodward had a strong and consistent work ethic.
“Every day she came in with a good attitude,” he said. “She was always a positive force. She left a legacy we can build on.”
Woodward, who also works as a nanny for nine month old twins, said she plans to one day have children of her own. However, for now she makes a living out of teaching young children a craft she has worked on since she was four years old.
“[Coaching] is something different,” she said. “It’s a different thing to tell them how to do it. It’s been so long since I’ve done [beginning gymnastics], it’s learning for me too. To see them improve each meet is the best.”