By Connor Smith, SDA Student Assistant
TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State gymnastics head coach Jay Santos announced Wednesday, the addition of former national champion and 12-time All-American Kristina Baskett to the Sun Devil coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach for the impending 2018 season.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Kristina to the Sun Devil family," said Santos. "She had an amazing college career at Utah and knows what it takes to compete and succeed at an extremely high level in our sport. I know our student-athletes will benefit from her competitive experience, her drive and her passion for the sport as she helps us continue to raise the level of ASU Gymnastics."
Baskett comes to Tempe after recently serving as a stunt double in a number of renowned T.V. Series and blockbuster movies. Baskett has accumulated 63 total credits in her professional acting career, while making appearances in popular films such as Jason Bourne and Olympus Has Fallen. She has also performed stunts in eight Game of Thrones episodes from 2016-17 and received acting credit for her role in a 2016 Game of Thrones episode titled, The Door. Other T.V. shows she has been credited with stunt work in include Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D., Pretty Little Liars, Teen Wolf and Modern Family. In working in the industry, Baskett has garnered extensive experience in coordinating and conducting choreography for prominent productions. She also has experience performing as an acrobat, having appeared in renowned shows such as Le Reve and Cirque Du Soleil's Viva Elvis in Las Vegas.
"NCAA Gymnastics has made such a positive impact on my life, and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of it all again," said Baskett. "Thank you to Jay and Jessica Santos for welcoming me to their program, and for the incredible opportunity to work with such a talented team of athletes and coaches. I see a bright future for ASU Gymnastics."
Before serving as a Hollywood stunt double, Baskett compiled a prolific career as a gymnast at the University of Utah. She competed as a member of the Red Rocks program from 2006-09, helping to pace the squad to three-consecutive second-place national finishes. She most notably won the 2006 NCAA uneven bar title as a freshman. She also received second-team All-American honors on vault at the 2006 NCAA Championships. A highly decorated competitor for the Red Rocks, Baskett also earned Silver medals on vault in 2008 and in the all-around in 2009.
One of the best to don the Utah red and white, Baskett finished her career as a 12-time All-American and a five-time NCAA regional champion. She won 88 event titles in her career, a mark that ranks fourth all-time at Utah. She capped her career leading the Utes with 35 victories during her senior season en route to being named Utah's MVP. Baskett excelled outside the gym as much as she did inside of it, earning first team Academic All-American honors in 2009 after receiving second team honors the previous year. She was also the recipient of the Dahl Award, recognizing a gymnast with outstanding academics.
TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State gymnastics head coach Jay Santos announced Wednesday, the addition of former national champion and 12-time All-American Kristina Baskett to the Sun Devil coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach for the impending 2018 season.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Kristina to the Sun Devil family," said Santos. "She had an amazing college career at Utah and knows what it takes to compete and succeed at an extremely high level in our sport. I know our student-athletes will benefit from her competitive experience, her drive and her passion for the sport as she helps us continue to raise the level of ASU Gymnastics."
Baskett comes to Tempe after recently serving as a stunt double in a number of renowned T.V. Series and blockbuster movies. Baskett has accumulated 63 total credits in her professional acting career, while making appearances in popular films such as Jason Bourne and Olympus Has Fallen. She has also performed stunts in eight Game of Thrones episodes from 2016-17 and received acting credit for her role in a 2016 Game of Thrones episode titled, The Door. Other T.V. shows she has been credited with stunt work in include Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D., Pretty Little Liars, Teen Wolf and Modern Family. In working in the industry, Baskett has garnered extensive experience in coordinating and conducting choreography for prominent productions. She also has experience performing as an acrobat, having appeared in renowned shows such as Le Reve and Cirque Du Soleil's Viva Elvis in Las Vegas.
"NCAA Gymnastics has made such a positive impact on my life, and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of it all again," said Baskett. "Thank you to Jay and Jessica Santos for welcoming me to their program, and for the incredible opportunity to work with such a talented team of athletes and coaches. I see a bright future for ASU Gymnastics."
Before serving as a Hollywood stunt double, Baskett compiled a prolific career as a gymnast at the University of Utah. She competed as a member of the Red Rocks program from 2006-09, helping to pace the squad to three-consecutive second-place national finishes. She most notably won the 2006 NCAA uneven bar title as a freshman. She also received second-team All-American honors on vault at the 2006 NCAA Championships. A highly decorated competitor for the Red Rocks, Baskett also earned Silver medals on vault in 2008 and in the all-around in 2009.
One of the best to don the Utah red and white, Baskett finished her career as a 12-time All-American and a five-time NCAA regional champion. She won 88 event titles in her career, a mark that ranks fourth all-time at Utah. She capped her career leading the Utes with 35 victories during her senior season en route to being named Utah's MVP. Baskett excelled outside the gym as much as she did inside of it, earning first team Academic All-American honors in 2009 after receiving second team honors the previous year. She was also the recipient of the Dahl Award, recognizing a gymnast with outstanding academics.