The Talent Behind the Success
Hideo Mizoguchi, “Coach Mizo”, as he is known throughout the gymnastics community, came to the United States in 1974. He competed in the Japanese Elite Program along side of Mr. Kasamatsu and Mr. Nakayam in the early ‘70s. He attended graduate school at the University of Oregon while assisting the USA Men’s Gymnastics Team. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Chukyo University in Japan and a master’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Oregon.
In 1977, Coach Mizo started a Junior Boys Program at the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics in Eugene, Oregon. Shortly afterward, he joined the Junior Olympic National Team program as a member of the Junior National Coaching Staff under the direction of Mr. Watanbe in 1979. Mizo is one of the few individuals who are still actively involved in coaching the Junior Olympic Boys Program. While he was still in Oregon, he also served as the Region 2, Regional Chairman from 1979 – 1983.
In 1984, Mr. Watanbe left for Japan. Coach Mizo was selected from the members of the junior coaching staff, to step into Mr. Watanbe’s position as the Junior National Technical Director. He served as the USA Gymnastics Junior Technical Director under the leadership of Mr. Robert Cowan, the men’s program director, until 1994. During this 10 year period, he also served as the Chairman of the Junior National Coaching Staff, the Chairman of the Age Group Competition Committee, the assistant of Educational Project for the FIG, under Mr. Bill Roetzhiem, and served as a Delegation Leader to several countries for international competitions.
In 1988 he married Kellie Kavanagh in St. Louis, Missouri. They had a son, Tyler, in 1989 while working at the USAG Home Office in Indianapolis, Indiana as the Junior Men’s Technical Director.
They moved to Houston, Texas in 1994, to direct the newly built Brown’s Gymnastics. Then, in 1996, he and his wife opened their own gymnastics facility – Champion Gymnastics Academy in Houston. They moved the business to Katy in 2005, and have been running a very successful gym for the last 15 years.
Mizo is a regular speaker and lecturer at many of the regional and national events including GAT, Future Stars and Regional/National Clinics throughout the country. Today, he continues to impact young gymnasts’ lives with the experience and wealth of knowledge which he has in the sport.
On a personal side Mizo loves to play golf, eat sushi and take coffee orders with his barista machine.
Contact coach Mizo mizo@champgym.com
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