Off Script: Snider Blazing New Trails for Pitt Gymnastics
11/24/2017 2:46:00 PM | General, Women's Gymnastics
Former Arkansas Gymnast, Coach Takes Over Pitt Program
When Samantha Snider took to the mat for the first time during a childhood birthday party, she never imagined how much her life would transform from that one action. With a knack for gymnastics, the coaches at the small gym started the blueprint for the path Snider's life would take.
Snider is the newest addition to the Pitt gymnastics program, taking over the head coaching job in June, just the third head coach in program history. Having never visited Pittsburgh prior to the interview process, Snider relied on those in the gymnastics community for their backing of the Panthers, and eventually decided to take a leap of faith after receiving the call from athletic director Heather Lyke.
After spending a few days exploring, it was clear that this was where she belonged.
Packing her things with her husband and infant in tow, Snider made the more than 14-hour journey to Pittsburgh. The move wasn't easy for the young mother, as she left behind not only her alma mater, but years' worth of gymnastics experiences. After receiving her undergraduate degree in psychology, she then continued her education at the University of Arkansas, receiving a master's degree in mental health counseling. It was during her time after receiving her master's that she began to think that coaching might be in her future, and remaining at Arkansas was an easy decision.
"I thought, 'Well, have two degrees, I can try this and fall back on my degrees and use them as my backup plan, because I know that I couldn't wake up in five years and think I want to be a college coach now and have the same opportunity that has been put before me now.,'" she said.
Moving on from a graduate assistant to an assistant coach, Snider worked three years with the Razorbacks in that capacity before being promoted to assistant head coach for two seasons, eventually becoming the associate head coach in August of 2016.
"I thought that this place [Pitt], this team and this program had such amazing potential that just needed to be tapped into," Snider noted. "It was really exciting for me to see that, and I looked at it as not just a great opportunity, but an exciting opportunity for me."
Snider's transfer to Pitt gymnastics was not done alone as she also works alongside her husband, Ryan, who serves as an assistant coach. The two met while Samantha was recruiting at his San Antonio, Texas, club gym. Six months later he became the volunteer assistant coach at Arkansas. The welcomed their daughter into their family a year and a half ago. A daughter who just months ago took her first steps at Pitt's Trees Hall gymnastics training facility.
While the move and decision to leave Arkansas may have been tough, perhaps the easiest transition for Snider has been with the team.
"The team unity and the team chemistry is something I cherish about this program. The girls are so accepting and they really listen to us, which does not come easily, especially with change," said Snider, who met the whole team on the first day of practice. "These girls bought in right away, which has impressed me. The sooner you buy in, the sooner you are able to see success, and they have seen it."
With her knowledge in psychology and mental health counseling, she has started to work with the young women on the team to create a positive atmosphere, both in the gym and classroom. Empowering not only the student athlete side, but who they are as a person.
"One of my staple coaching philosophies is to empower these young women to be strong, assertive women who are goal-oriented and to go after what they want in life," she said.
Through positive self-talk, visualization, self-confidence, and empowerment, Snider has found ways to embrace and transfer them to benefit others. Perhaps it was her prior experience as a collegiate gymnast which allows her to connected on a deeper level with the young women on her team.
"I share stories with them all the time about when I was in a similar situation and this is what I did or how I reacted," she recalls. "It definitely helps build rapport when you share your own experiences and I am fortunate enough that I was able to experience this stuff and achieve things on a high level. I feel that it gives me more validity."
Snider and her team will open the season on Jan. 13 at Fitzgerald Field Hose, hosting Oregon State before opening East Atlantic Gymnastics League action the following week in a dual with New Hampshire, also at Fitzgerald Field House.
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Snider is the newest addition to the Pitt gymnastics program, taking over the head coaching job in June, just the third head coach in program history. Having never visited Pittsburgh prior to the interview process, Snider relied on those in the gymnastics community for their backing of the Panthers, and eventually decided to take a leap of faith after receiving the call from athletic director Heather Lyke.
After spending a few days exploring, it was clear that this was where she belonged.
Packing her things with her husband and infant in tow, Snider made the more than 14-hour journey to Pittsburgh. The move wasn't easy for the young mother, as she left behind not only her alma mater, but years' worth of gymnastics experiences. After receiving her undergraduate degree in psychology, she then continued her education at the University of Arkansas, receiving a master's degree in mental health counseling. It was during her time after receiving her master's that she began to think that coaching might be in her future, and remaining at Arkansas was an easy decision.
"I thought, 'Well, have two degrees, I can try this and fall back on my degrees and use them as my backup plan, because I know that I couldn't wake up in five years and think I want to be a college coach now and have the same opportunity that has been put before me now.,'" she said.
Moving on from a graduate assistant to an assistant coach, Snider worked three years with the Razorbacks in that capacity before being promoted to assistant head coach for two seasons, eventually becoming the associate head coach in August of 2016.
"I thought that this place [Pitt], this team and this program had such amazing potential that just needed to be tapped into," Snider noted. "It was really exciting for me to see that, and I looked at it as not just a great opportunity, but an exciting opportunity for me."
Snider's transfer to Pitt gymnastics was not done alone as she also works alongside her husband, Ryan, who serves as an assistant coach. The two met while Samantha was recruiting at his San Antonio, Texas, club gym. Six months later he became the volunteer assistant coach at Arkansas. The welcomed their daughter into their family a year and a half ago. A daughter who just months ago took her first steps at Pitt's Trees Hall gymnastics training facility.
While the move and decision to leave Arkansas may have been tough, perhaps the easiest transition for Snider has been with the team.
"The team unity and the team chemistry is something I cherish about this program. The girls are so accepting and they really listen to us, which does not come easily, especially with change," said Snider, who met the whole team on the first day of practice. "These girls bought in right away, which has impressed me. The sooner you buy in, the sooner you are able to see success, and they have seen it."
With her knowledge in psychology and mental health counseling, she has started to work with the young women on the team to create a positive atmosphere, both in the gym and classroom. Empowering not only the student athlete side, but who they are as a person.
"One of my staple coaching philosophies is to empower these young women to be strong, assertive women who are goal-oriented and to go after what they want in life," she said.
Through positive self-talk, visualization, self-confidence, and empowerment, Snider has found ways to embrace and transfer them to benefit others. Perhaps it was her prior experience as a collegiate gymnast which allows her to connected on a deeper level with the young women on her team.
"I share stories with them all the time about when I was in a similar situation and this is what I did or how I reacted," she recalls. "It definitely helps build rapport when you share your own experiences and I am fortunate enough that I was able to experience this stuff and achieve things on a high level. I feel that it gives me more validity."
Snider and her team will open the season on Jan. 13 at Fitzgerald Field Hose, hosting Oregon State before opening East Atlantic Gymnastics League action the following week in a dual with New Hampshire, also at Fitzgerald Field House.
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