In January’s five meets, the Denver Pioneers recorded scores below 49.000 on beam thrice, including a 47.975 in the season opener. But entering the Utah regional, their season-high vault score, thanks to their associate HC Linas Gaveika’s coaching, helped them crush Stanford despite being an unseeded team to enter their sixth consecutive NCAA regional finals. This was what Linas had done for the Pioneers since he landed in Colorado back in 2013. With him, the Pioneers have proven their strong foothold as Gymnastics’ powerhouse by snatching a top 15 rank in the nation for 11 consecutive seasons, including 2025, despite their slow start. But little did they know the changes that the next season would be bringing.

As they wrapped up a dominant season on April 5, at least at home with a 10-0 record at Magness Arena, standing tall at third after Utah and UCLA, they had some shocking news. After 13 years of establishing the Pioneers, Linas bid Colorado a goodbye. Suspicious? Yes. But this was not the end for the changes in the staff room, and one cannot help but sniff something going on internally. On April 22, the Pioneers had another shock coming their way in assistant coach Stephen Hood’s announcement which read,

“After an unforgettable ride, I’ve made the decision to move on from my role at the University of Denver. It’s hard to put into words what this chapter has meant to me. DU has been a place of growth, grit, and so many moments I’ll never forget. We broke records, chased big dreams, and built something special, but more than anything, I’m thankful for the people. The athletes, the staff, the families, the community… you’ve impacted me in ways I’ll carry for a lifetime.

“This next step is bittersweet, but I believe in finishing well and starting fresh. And I’m excited to chase what’s next with open hands and a full heart. Thank you, Denver. #GoLive”

So here’s where things raise eyebrows with some speculations making rounds:

• Speculation #1: For a coach whose fingerprints are all over the Pioneers’ recent success, the timing and tone of his exit suggest more than just a career shift, especially considering Gaveika’s exit just hours before. The assistant head coach has been known for polishing the Pioneers’ uneven bars performance. Last year, under his eyes, the program set a new bar record. So after a somewhat successful stint, where fans even thought the team had a Final Four potential and more, why leave?
• Speculation #2: The back-to-back exits now point to a reality that more often than not hits the coaching staff in athletics. Many are now speculating that seeing the success that Linas brought to the Pioneers, another institute reached out to him. And as his exit post read, he has decided, “to step away and explore new opportunities for myself and my family.” Adding more weight to this is Stephen’s sudden departure from Colorado.
• Speculation #3: Many also believe that Linas is taking Hood with him to the new destination he may land at as part of a combo deal. And the two have certainly seen successes together despite Stephen’s short stint at Denver.
• Speculation #4: We have no words from anyone on the coaching staff, including HC Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart, or from Hood and Linas. Because if this was just moving on from Denver, we would have some information. But all we have is an eerie silence, as everyone questions what’s next for the Pioneers.

But maybe, just maybe, it might have something to do with how for the past two seasons, Denver, despite re-doing their mistakes, has been slipping here and there. And one star admits the flaws.

The senior in the Pioneers’ gymnastics had something to say

Fifth-year senior Rylie Mundell didn’t shy away from calling it like it was. “It was definitely a rocky start—we’re not afraid to say it. There were a lot of moments where we were asked, ‘What do we need?’ and we experimented with a lot of things. It was about finding that balance.”

But let’s be real—experimentation in the middle of a competitive NCAA gymnastics season? That’s not exactly a recipe for simplicity. To solve their beam troubles, the team tweaked training routines, rotating lineups, or re-evaluated its mental approach on the fly, risking to lose its rhythm. They even added pressure sets to enhance chances of a high-stake competition situation. And for a program like Denver—built on precision, chemistry, and tradition—that kind of disruption could have sent the season spiraling. Example?

However, for now, the silence from the program’s top brass is deafening. But with two high-profile resignations and a postseason heartbreak still fresh, one thing is clear: the next chapter for Denver gymnastics is coming fast—and it won’t look quite like the last. Do you suspect anything?