Meet our Staff

This is Coach Zach Cipra’s thrid season as head coach of the NIU Men’s Gymnastics program. Before that, he was assistant coach for two years and an athlete on the team for three years. In addition, he was one of the first members to join the program in 2018 and helped the program get started.

Coach Zach has a 14 year athletic career which includes club, high school, collegiate, and elite competitions. During his time as an athlete at NIU, he helped the team at three GymACT National Championships and represented the program at US Classic and USAG Nationals with other collegiate and NCAA athletes. He also was presented the N2 award in 2021 for his leadership and teamwork skills.

Coach Zach is currently a gymnastics coach at Energym Gymnastics in Sycamore, Illinois. He coaches all levels but is also the head coach of the Junior boys’ program. He has previous coaching experience as a High School Boy’s coach as well.

Coach Zach graduated from NIU in 2018 with his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering and then in 2022 with his Master’s in Business Administration. 

This is Coach Zack McCue's first year on staff with the NIU Men's Gymnastics program. Prior to this, he was an athlete on the team for 4 years, 2 of which he was team captain and president of the team. 

Zack has had a 12 year athletic career which started at Gymnastics World of Ohio back in 2013. Once he committed to NIU, he helped the huskies significantly grow the team. He contribed to bringing the Huskies to 3 back to back GymACT National Championships. During his senior year, Zack was nominated for the GymACT N2 award for his leadership skills. 

Zack is currently a gymnastics coach at Energym Gymnastics in Sycamore, Illinois. He coaches boys and girls all levels including college. 

Zack graduated from NIU in 2025 with his Bachelor's degree in Buisness Operations Management and Information Systems and a minor in Data Analytics. 

This is Christian Lunsford’s third year as an assistant coach, returning after serving as the assistant coach at Simpson College where he helped lead the team to their most successful season in program history. While with NIU Christian has helped lead the Huskies to two GymACT National Championship appearances and NIU's first individual medalist in 2024. 

Christian's gymnastics background includes a sixteen year competitive career through the club, high school, and collegiate levels. He received many accolades during his high school career, the highest being named as the 2018 Illinois High School Outstanding Senior Gymnast of the Year. Christian continued to excel in college. While on the NIU Team in 2022, he helped lead them back to the GymACT National Championship. He was also named to the 2022 GymACT All-Academic Team. 

He has made an impact through his commitment at all levels. Christian assists with both Illinois High School Boys and Girls Gymnastics. He was the Head Boys Coach for 3 years and the Girls Assistant Coach for 5 years at Palatine High School. Under his leadership he has brought athletes and teams to the State Championship every year and was awarded the MSL Head Coach of the Year in 2024 and 2025. Christian has proudly coached numerous All-Academic and All-American athletes. He is also the Vice President of the Illinois High School Gymnastics Coaches Association (IHSGCA), advocating for the continuation and support of Illinois High School Boys Gymnastics. He is also a certified judge.

In 2022 he graduated from the University of Iowa with degrees in History and Secondary Social Studies Education as well as an endorsement in ESL from National Louis University.