A Blank Canvas: Maile’ana Kanewa-Hermelyn’s First Year as Michigan’s Head Coach

When Maile’ana Kanewa-Hermelyn stood in the arena before Michigan’s season opener at the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad, she felt it — a subtle but undeniable shift.

“I looked at my staff and went, ‘Oh, wait a second,’” she said with a laugh. “They were like, ‘Yeah.’ And I was like, ‘Whoa.’”

After seven seasons helping shape the program from the sidelines, Kanewa-Hermelyn was now the one leading it.

Yet if you spend even a few minutes around her, it becomes clear that this role is less about authority and more about energy. She speaks with intention and leads with authenticity. It is the kind of presence athletes gravitate toward,  and the kind that makes you believe something special is being built.

For Kanewa-Hermelyn, stepping into the head coaching position was never about becoming someone else. It was about becoming more fully herself.

“I never wanted to be Bev 2.0,” she said. “I wanted to make it my own while honoring the legacy.” 

That balance between tradition and evolution now defines the direction of Michigan gymnastics.

Born in Hawaii and raised in Duluth, Minnesota, Kanewa-Hermelyn’s path through the sport has never been linear. As a collegiate athlete at Oklahoma, she helped the Sooners capture the program’s first two national championships, moments that reshaped her understanding of what a team can accomplish together.

But long before she stood on top of the podium, she faced a challenge that nearly ended her career.

During her freshman year at Oklahoma, Kanewa-Hermelyn received news she still struggles to forget.

“It was one of the worst pieces of information I could have ever gotten,” she said. “Not just that I had the clot, but that I might never do gymnastics again.”

The diagnosis came after a full preseason, at a time when she felt stronger and more prepared than ever heading into competition. The possibility that it could all be taken away so suddenly was almost impossible to process.

“I remember thinking, ‘What are you talking about? I just got here,” she said.

Still, her response was immediate. “Watch me,” she told herself.

Even as uncertainty surrounded her recovery, Kanewa-Hermelyn began searching for ways to stay connected to the sport. She and Oklahoma head coach K.J. Kindler even discussed the possibility of adapting routines,  whatever it might take to remain part of the team.

As it became increasingly unclear whether she would be medically cleared to return, Kindler presented another option: coaching.

“She told me I could still be a huge part of the team and contribute in other ways,” Kanewa-Hermelyn said.

So she leaned in.

Kanewa-Hermelyn started learning the inner workings of a collegiate program, helping with corrections and taking on small responsibilities wherever she could. What began as a way to stay involved quickly revealed something bigger.

“I fell in love with collegiate coaching and the whys behind it,” she said. “What goes into scholarships. What happens behind the scenes.”

Three months later, she was cleared to return. That Friday night against UCLA, she competed vault for the first time and delivered a 9.925 to win the event title.

“It unlocked a level,” she said. 

The phrase still guides her today. Growth, in her eyes, is rarely comfortable, but it is always possible.

“One person can’t win a championship,” Kanewa-Hermelyn said. “Everybody has to believe. Everybody has to lift each other.”

That philosophy is visible across Michigan’s roster, and it is something Kanewa-Hermelyn is intentional about making clear. When asked who fans should keep an eye on this season, she did not single out one name. Instead, she pointed to the depth of her lineup and the collective belief shaping the Wolverines.

Sixth-years Reyna Guggino and Carly Bauman chose to return not out of obligation, but out of love for the program. Guggino’s comeback from injury has already provided a surge of momentum, while Bauman continues to anchor the team with steady leadership.

“It’s hard to do four years, then five, and then choose six,” Kanewa-Hermelyn said. “That shows their commitment to this team.”

Athletes like Ava Jordan have embraced expanded roles, emerging as both dependable competitors and vocal leaders within Michigan’s leadership council.

“She’s worked for everything,” Kanewa-Hermelyn said. “Her growth in just three years has been incredible.”

The sophomore class has also stepped confidently into bigger moments. In Michigan’s second meet of the season against Michigan State,  a meet that resulted in an early upset, Sophia Diaz and Sophie Parenti demonstrated the resilience Kanewa-Hermelyn values. 

Diaz responded to a mid-routine slip by finishing strong and composed, while Parenti continued settling into her new release on bars with poise.

“We took the time to teach in those moments,” Kanewa-Hermelyn said. “Those are wins.”

Freshmen have blended seamlessly into the culture as well. Some arrived with lifelong ties to Michigan gymnastics, while others, including Quincy Walters, have fit so naturally it feels as though they have always been part of the team.

“Every single person has the capability to wow,” she said “ and perhaps more importantly, every athlete feels seen.”

Several weeks into the season, Michigan has not had a perfect run. But perfection has never been the standard Kanewa-Hermelyn chases.

Michigan’s legacy remains a cornerstone of the program, yet her influence can be felt in the daily details. She holds monthly one-on-one meetings with every athlete, leadership is shared through a council rather than captains, and ideas are welcomed openly.

Most importantly, the athletes genuinely enjoy being together. After a team retreat where they had already spent an entire weekend side by side, many immediately made plans to reunite that very night.

“To me, that’s success,” Kanewa-Hermelyn said. “When they genuinely want to spend time together.”

Her vision extends far beyond gymnastics.

“We’re trying to create future leaders,” she said. “The most growth happens when you’re uncomfortable.”

It is a philosophy that challenges athletes while reminding them they are supported — a balance she delivers with both conviction and warmth.

Ask Kanewa-Hermelyn what excites her most about the rest of the season, and her answer is immediate.

“It’s a blank canvas,” Kanewa-Hermelyn said. “We’re the only ones who can write our story.”

For her, success is not defined solely by banners, even if the championship standard remains clear. It lives in the quieter moments — the teammate who becomes the loudest cheerleader after being pulled from a lineup, the sixth-year who cannot imagine leaving, the laughter that echoes through practice long after training ends.

“When I leave every day and I see the energy and the connection, that’s what makes me proud,” she said.

Everything else, she added with a smile, is just a cherry on top.

Spend time around Kanewa-Hermelyn and one thing becomes unmistakable: her belief is contagious.

The season is still unfolding. The results will come. But the foundation,  built on trust, joy, and relentless growth, is already taking shape.

And if Michigan continues to reflect the spirit of its head coach, the Wolverines are not just building toward their next win.

They are building toward something bigger.

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