With Gymnastics Still Axed at American University, Veteran Coach Unveils a New Purpose Beyond NCAA Comeback Four years after the cut, the University of Minnesota men’s gymnastics team finds fresh purp

With a century of dominance, national titles, and back-to-back triumphs, Minnesota Men’s Gymnastics stood among the nation’s best. Then, in 2021, everything unraveled. Citing financial strain, the University cut funding and dropped the team from its varsity lineup, a move that drew immediate backlash from across the nation . Yet the Gophers refused to fade away. Led by their determined coach, Mike Burns, they fought for survival and found a new home, moving beyond the NCAA affiliation.

The 14,000-square-foot facility inside St. Paul’s Fairview Business Center is a converted warehouse now used for Minnesota gymnastics. It has 20-foot ceilings and long corridors, not as advanced as the University’s former setup, but sufficient for training. To reduce costs, Coach Burns utilized Facebook M