Former associate head coach of Iowa State Gymnastics, Ryan Snider, slammed the ISU athletic department and head coach Ashley Miles Greig for discontinuing the women’s gymnastics program, as announced by director Jamie Pollard. The decision came after the remaining season was cancelled due to issues among parents, students, and coaches.
Snider was selected as associate head coach by Miles Greig in 2024, and he stepped down from his position in April 2025 amid internal challenges the coaching staff and other members were facing.
Former Iowa State Gymnastics Coach Calls Out ISU and Head Coach Miles Greig
The Iowa State Gymnastics program has been on the verge of falling apart several times, including in 2018, when it underwent a complete review. In 2023, the program also underwent a significant coaching change following an independent evaluation by a Minnesota-based law firm. The same year, Miles Greig, the three-time NCAA national vault champion, was appointed as the eighth head coach of the program.
Three years later, problems resurfaced, and the athletic department first decided to discontinue the remainder of the 2026 season as students complained about “unresolvable” conflicts. However, after much discussion with stakeholders about what lay ahead, the council and the athletic director concluded that the program would be discontinued.
Not pleased with the decision and calling out Miles Greig for the downfall because of her inexperience, the ex-assistant coach, Snider, posted an Instagram story:
“Sad day for this sport. Shame on that entire ISU athletic department. All you had to do was take accountability for hiring the wrong person. How many athletes, coaches, & parents went to administration & told you about Ashley? You have issues in every sport, it’s college athletics. You’re dealing with young humans in the most influential part of their lives,” Snider wrote.
“The issue recently with gymnastics? You hired a used car salesman to lead a storied division 1 program. In what other sport or professional does hiring someone with zero experience make sense?” he added.
After discontinuation, the admin confirmed that it would honor the student scholarships and support anyone who wants to enter the transfer portal. However, no coaching staff will have their contracts renewed.
Snider, who was fresh off his coaching stint at the University of Pittsburgh, helped the Iowa State gymnastics team rise in the rankings during the 2024 season. He was promoted to associate head coach in recognition of his contributions and left the Cyclones the following year.
On the other hand, Miles Greig helped the gymnastics squad go up 15 spots on the ranking list and also qualify for the postseason. She also led the team to post scores they had rarely achieved in recent seasons, including their highest since 2018.
Under Greig’s guidance, Noelle Adams, Haylee Hardin, and Frederique Sgarbossa, among others, achieved individual success.
