Zaakira Muhammad Joins Gymnastics Staff
9.10.18 | Women's Gymnastics
PHILADELPHIA- After a four-year career as a gymnast at West Virginia University, Zaakira Muhammad joined the Temple gymnastics staff as a graduate assistant coach in August 2018. Muhammad, a native of nearby Pennsauken, N.J., garnered All-American honors during her impressive career at West Virginia.
"Zaakira is a great addition to the Temple Gymnastics staff," said head coach Josh Nilson. "Not only does she have an impressive record as an athlete at West Virginia, she also brings a unique outlook on developing the collegiate athlete. Zaakira was a fierce competitor for West Virginia even though she was not widely recruited as an athlete. She understands how to manage and build a college gymnast both mentally and physically based off of her own experience. She fits in well with the philosophy of the staff."
Muhammad had a standout career as a Mountaineer. She was a two-time team captain and three-time recipient of the Linda Burnette-Good Award, which honors the team's most valuable gymnast. Her athletic accolades include earning a spot on the NCAA All-American Second Team and All-Big 12 Championship Team in floor, qualifying for the NCAA National Championship in 2017 and tallying over 1500 career points. Muhammad ranks No. 19 in West Virginia gymnastics history with 10 career scores of 9.9 or better. She also held the highest all-around score of the season twice. On the academic front, Muhammad was named to the academic All-Big 12 Gymnastics Second Team and was named to the Dean's List in December and May of 2018.
"I am excited for the upcoming season at Temple University," said Muhammad. "We have a great team and an amazing staff."
While at West Virginia, Muhammad gained experience mentoring young gymnasts as a coach and counselor for the West Virginia University gymnastics summer camp. She also was an assistant level 10 coach for TNT Elite Gymnastics. Here, she coached leaps and jumps on floor and beam worked with the athletes in individual and group settings.
Muhammad studied journalism and sports communication at West Virginia, earning her B.S. in journalism in May 2018. She is currently a graduate student at Temple, pursuing her Master of Education in higher education.
"Zaakira is a great addition to the Temple Gymnastics staff," said head coach Josh Nilson. "Not only does she have an impressive record as an athlete at West Virginia, she also brings a unique outlook on developing the collegiate athlete. Zaakira was a fierce competitor for West Virginia even though she was not widely recruited as an athlete. She understands how to manage and build a college gymnast both mentally and physically based off of her own experience. She fits in well with the philosophy of the staff."
Muhammad had a standout career as a Mountaineer. She was a two-time team captain and three-time recipient of the Linda Burnette-Good Award, which honors the team's most valuable gymnast. Her athletic accolades include earning a spot on the NCAA All-American Second Team and All-Big 12 Championship Team in floor, qualifying for the NCAA National Championship in 2017 and tallying over 1500 career points. Muhammad ranks No. 19 in West Virginia gymnastics history with 10 career scores of 9.9 or better. She also held the highest all-around score of the season twice. On the academic front, Muhammad was named to the academic All-Big 12 Gymnastics Second Team and was named to the Dean's List in December and May of 2018.
"I am excited for the upcoming season at Temple University," said Muhammad. "We have a great team and an amazing staff."
While at West Virginia, Muhammad gained experience mentoring young gymnasts as a coach and counselor for the West Virginia University gymnastics summer camp. She also was an assistant level 10 coach for TNT Elite Gymnastics. Here, she coached leaps and jumps on floor and beam worked with the athletes in individual and group settings.
Muhammad studied journalism and sports communication at West Virginia, earning her B.S. in journalism in May 2018. She is currently a graduate student at Temple, pursuing her Master of Education in higher education.
