Kara Willard was named the head coach of Azusa Pacific acrobatics & tumbling on November 18, 2020 after serving as an assistant coach for seven years for the Cougars. She is the second head coach in Cougar acrobatics and tumbling history.
In her first season in charge of the program during the 2021 campaign, she led Azusa Pacific to an undefeated regular season for the first time in program history. In the first meet of the year, the Cougars had a thrilling come-from-behind victory against then No. 1 Oregon. It was Azusa Pacific's second win in program history against the Ducks, and the first since 2014. Following their perfect regular season, the Cougars earned the No. 1 overall seed at the NCATA National Championships for the first time ever, and it returned to the championship meet for the first time in seven years after defeating Hawai'i Pacific in the semifinals.
In 2022, Willard led the Cougars to a regular season record of 5-1, which earned them the second-seed for the NCATA National Championships. At the Championships, the Cougars defeated #7 Fairmont State in the quarterfinals, but fell in the semifinals. Willard led the Cougars back to the quarterfinals of the NCATA Championships in 2023, which continued Azusa Pacific’s streak of national postseason appearances in every season since the start of acrobatics & tumbling in 2011.
Under Willard, Azusa Pacific has posted a record of 14-7, including four wins against teams ranked in the top-10 nationally. At the NCATA Championships, Willard’s athletes have won six individual event titles. At the 2022 Championships, the Cougars claimed five individual event titles, which was the most by any team that season.
Prior to the announcement of her becoming the head coach, Willard has been an instrumental part of the Cougars recent success, as she served as an assistant coach for the Cougars since 2013. Prior to that, she was a Cougar student-athlete, competing first as a competitive cheerleader from 2008 until 2010, and then as a member of the first acrobatics & tumbling team in school history in 2011.
In her seven seasons as an assistant coach, Willard helped guide the Cougars to five National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association national semifinals appearances, including a national runner-up finish in 2014. The Cougars have posted an overall record of 29-24 with Willard on the coaching staff. As an assistant coach, Willard was tasked with many different responsibilities, including the development of pre-season and in-season strength and conditioning programs, practice and skill progression planning, and she also served as recruiting coordinator for the program.
While much of Willard's time has been dedicated to the acrobatics & tumbling program at Azusa Pacific, she also served on various NCATA committees in an effort to grow and develop the sport nationwide. The summer before becoming head coach, Willard and the entire acrobatics & tumbling community was able to celebrate a huge accomplishment, as the sport was given NCAA emerging sport status on August 1, 2020.
Prior to stepping into the coaching world, Willard had a decorated collegiate athletic career. In 2010, she was a member of Azusa Pacific's competitive cheerleading team that won the National Cheerleading Association National Championship. The National Championship capped off the final season for the Cougars in competitive cheer, as Colleen Kausrud transitioned the program into acrobatics & tumbling the following year. Willard was a critical piece of the Cougars' first two acrobatics & tumbling teams, as she was given the Leadership Award as a junior in 2011, and then was named team captain as a senior in 2012, and received the award a second time. On the mats as a senior, she won a 7-Element national championship.
Willard has received two degrees from Azusa Pacific. In May of 2012, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Liberal Studies, with an emphasis in Physical Education, and then in May 2018, she earned a Master's degree in Leadership Development.
Outside of her coaching career, Willard has worked as a personal trainer since 2013, earning 'Master Trainer' status for servicing over 3,000 sessions and gaining various certifications.
Originally from Tacoma, Washington, Willard graduated from Life Christian Academy in the spring of 2008. Willard, her husband Brent, and their two children currently reside in the Azusa area.
