Have you ever wondered what it takes to find your true calling? For Carly Dockendorf, the head coach of the Utah gymnastics team, it wasn’t a straight path. She’s worn many hats from a gymnast, pole vaulter, assistant coach, and even interim leader, before landing where she belongs, guiding the Red Rocks to new heights. With a career that’s zigzagged through high school sidelines, collegiate tracks, and elite gymnastics programs, Carly’s journey is one of persistence and a little bit of luck. Do you know it all pivoted on one phone call? Almost like something out of a movie. A single decision set the stage for everything that followed.
A 17-year-old Carly Dockendorf, a talented gymnast from Port Moody, British Columbia, was crisscrossing the U.S., visiting powerhouse programs like Florida, Arizona, Michigan, and Penn State. She had options, but something was off. “None of them felt like home to me,” she recalls in a recent chat with The Daily at the University of Washington. “I didn’t really want to go to any of them. So I said ‘no’ to everybody.” That’s a bold move for a kid with big dreams, but Carly wasn’t about to settle. Instead, she took matters into her own hands and picked up the phone, dialing Bob Levesque, the head coach at Washington. “I was like, ‘Hey, do you have any space for me?’” she said with a laugh, reflecting on that gutsy call nearly 25 years later.
The odds were in her favor; one of the scholarships had been left vacant by a gymnast who had chosen to de-commit. After Carly submitted a VHS tape, she was approved to make a visit. Although it was a 137-mile journey from her hometown to Seattle, she was pleased by what her new surroundings had to offer. “I’m so glad I got to be,” she told The Daily as she reminisced about her initial impressions regarding Washington. She not only made it onto the Huskies roster but also crafted a stunning collegiate career, earning herself a school record of six perfect 10s, five of which were on the floor, and 48 event titles from 2002 to 2005. She truly showcased her leadership during this time by captaining the team for three seasons. Heading closer to the present, she can now be found leading Utah’s gymnastics program as their head coach, a position she has held for two years, leading the team after working as an assistant and stepping in as an interim coach.
Carly didn’t wait for the opportunity to knock—she built the door herself. After graduating from Washington in 2006 with a degree in English, she bounced through coaching gigs at Shorecrest High School and Seattle Pacific before joining Utah in 2018. Her rise from volunteer assistant to head coach by 2023 mirrors that fearless 17-year-old who refused to settle. Now, she’s leading the No. 4-ranked Red Rocks with the same grit that got her to Washington, turning a program with a storied legacy into her own.
That phone call to Washington wasn’t just about finding a team—it was about finding herself. It set her on a path of leadership, from captaining the Huskies to steering the Red Rocks through a Pac-12 Championship in her first season as head coach in 2024. With her knack for connecting with athletes and her proven track record—think eight NCAA All-Americans and five USAG National Champions under her belt—she’s right where she’s meant to be. Utah feels like home now, and it all started with a little courage and a lot of heart.
Heartfelt moments of Utah Gymnastics 2025 season until now
Talking about the 2025 season, it’s been a wild ride for the Red Rocks, and Carly’s been at the wheel. And as of March 18, they’re comfortably sitting at No. 4 nationally with a National Qualifying Score (NQS) of 197.620, per UtahUtes. com. The season opened with a 197.225 to beat Utah State, BYU, and Southern Utah at the Best of Utah meet. Rookie Avery Neff stole the spotlight, earning a share of the vault title with a 9.90, and Grace McCallum and Makenna Smith came through in clutch fashion.
The Red Rocks eventually lost to No. 3 UCLA, 197.675 to 197.975, on March 14, despite scoring a season-high 49.625 on vault. Carly’s crew battled valiantly — McCallum hit a 9.975 on the beam, and Smith a 9.95 on the floor, but UCLA’s depth won the day. Prior victories, such as a 197.225 against Washington boosted their NQS. And not to be overlooked are the smaller moments like Ella Zirbes’ breakout vault vs. Iowa State or Neff’s steady development as a freshman star. These are the heart-felt beats of a season still taking shape, and where Carly’s steady hand is reined on the whole team.
The Big 12 Championships on March 22 are hanging over their heads next. With veterans like McCallum and young stars like Neff, the Red Rocks should make a run. Their 49.525 beam score against UCLA — the third highest in program history — shows they’ve got the chops. Carly’s leadership, forged from that fateful phone call to today, has this team thinking they can compete with anyone. The trial-and-error that’s defined the 2025 season has been a series of highs and hard truths for Utah gymnastics, but it’s clear Carly Dockendorf is holding the heart of her team. They’re squaring off in the top division, vying for a Big 12 title, and getting closer with each meeting.
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