Former student-athlete Raena Worley has joined the Kentucky gymnastics coaching staff as an assistant coach, the program announced Tuesday morning.
“I am excited to announce the hiring of Raena Worley as our new assistant coach,” said head coach Tim Garrison. “She brought energy, excitement, and excellence to our program as an athlete, and we are anticipating great things from her collegiate coaching career.”
Worley, a native of Christiansburg, spent five seasons with the Wildcats, becoming the second most decorated gymnast in program history behind all-time great Jenny Hansen.
“I am beyond grateful for my experiences these past five years as a student-athlete here at the University of Kentucky,” said Worley. “I am so excited to get started in my new role as assistant coach.”
In her time as a student-athlete, Worley was a 13-time All-American, back-to-back AAI Award finalist, Honda Award Finalist, and four-time All-Southeastern Conference honoree. She earned five perfect 10.0 marks during her fifth-year senior season, seeing four on the floor exercise and earning one top score on the uneven bars. She saw 30 all-around individual titles, as well as 28 on floor, 15 on the balance beam, 13 on bars and 11 on vault. Worley also qualified as a national championship individual competitor in 2021, 2022 and 2024 where she was the runner-up on floor.
“Her knowledge of our program and unique competitive perspective will allow her to have an immediate impact on Team 51 and beyond,” stated Garrison. “Welcome, Coach Worley!”
The 2024 SEC Floor Co-Champion graduated in May with a dual degree in Communications and Kinesiology. In addition to her athletic success, she also excelled in the classroom earning four SEC honor roll nods and WCGA Scholastic All-America honors.
“I am looking forward to continuing the growth of this program and pouring my love for the sport of gymnastics into generations to come,” expressed Worley. “As always, Go Cats!”
University of Kentucky Athletics
