Cory Tomlinson
Hype Man
Cory Tomlinson – Hype Man and Advocate for Women’s Sports
Cory Tomlinson is a sports marketing creative, in-arena emcee, and fan engagement specialist best known in the NCAA gymnastics world as a “Hype Man.” He works with college athletics programs to enhance the fan experience, build energy inside arenas, and help teams create exciting competition environments. Tomlinson has a background in marketing, entertainment, and event production, and has worked with multiple NCAA programs and live sporting events to create engaging atmospheres for athletes and fans.
He is also involved in media and content, co-hosting the On The Floor podcast and working in sports marketing and talent management.
Follow Cory on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/corymtomlinson/
Key Takeaways and Episode Recap:
In this podcast episode, host Ryan Romano interviews a gymnastics marketing innovator, Cory Tomlinson, who shares their unconventional journey from a shy child terrified of attention to a pioneering “hype man” for college gymnastics. The guest discusses growing up with a gymnastics coaching father, transitioning from competitive swimming, and becoming UCLA’s team manager despite knowing little about the sport.
They detail Cory’s work transforming Arkansas gymnastics attendance from 2,700 to over 11,000 fans per meet through grassroots marketing, fan education, and community engagement. Inspired by a memorable conversation with Kobe Bryant, the guest’s philosophy centers on desire, will, curiosity, and building genuine human connections.
Click Here For Time Stamps of Episode With Cory Tomlinson
Childhood Fear of Attention (00:00:45)
Cory Tomlinson shares a story about being terrified of being the center of attention and hiding from Disney characters.
The Journey into Gymnastics (00:03:39)
The host asks Cory Tomlinson to explain their journey and how they became so involved and passionate about promoting gymnastics.
Family History and First Exposure (00:04:45)
The guest discusses their father’s coaching history at UCLA, their own swimming career, and their first gymnastics meet experience.
Learning the Sport from Scratch (00:06:51)
As a new team manager, the guest describes their initial lack of knowledge and dedication to learning gymnastics through intense study.
Finding Value Beyond Coaching (00:09:20)
Cory Tomlinson talks about coaching at summer camps and helping start Beam Queen Boot Camp, realizing their unique contribution to gymnastics.
Pioneering a Non-Coaching Path (00:11:15)
The guest explains why they chose a creative, non-traditional path to grow the sport instead of becoming a traditional coach.
Career in Non-Profit (00:14:49)
The guest details their five-and-a-half-year career working for a childhood cancer charity, which helped build their networking and marketing skills.
The First Big Opportunity (00:18:51)
Cory Tomlinson’s first major role came from Jordan Wieber at Arkansas, starting as a marketing consultant and creating the “hype man” role.
Psychology and Marketing (00:20:20)
The guest explains how their psychology degree helps them understand fan demographics and create tailored marketing strategies for different markets.
The Philosophy of Modeling (00:23:43)
The guest discusses their belief that creativity is about modeling past experiences, not creating something entirely new, to innovate.
The Power of Curiosity (00:32:04)
The guest emphasizes the importance of curiosity, desire, and will as the driving forces behind their work and learning process.
Meeting Kobe Bryant (00:35:14)
Cory Tomlinson shares a story about meeting Kobe Bryant, who inspired them with the advice to always “stay curious.”
Gaps in Gymnastics Exposure (00:48:43)
The guest identifies a major gap in the sport: the lack of awareness of college gymnastics outside of the Olympics.
Grassroots Marketing Success (00:51:20)
The guest explains their focus on grassroots marketing and how it dramatically increased attendance for the University of Arkansas gymnastics program.
Expanding Fan Experiences (00:53:58)
A specific marketing strategy is shared: getting local sports bars to broadcast championship meets to build fan loyalty and community.
Creating the “Hype Man” Persona (00:58:53)
The guest explains their “hype man” role is focused on educating fans and giving them permission to get excited and participate.
Overcoming the Fear of Judgment (01:05:43)
The guest discusses how they handle judgment by focusing on creating unforgettable experiences for the student-athletes, not for themselves.
Final Message on Community (01:10:25)
The guest’s parting message is about the importance of community, celebrating people, and doing life together.
Additional Resources:
Follow Gymnastics Plus on Social Media:
https://www.youtube.com/@Gymnastics-Plus
https://www.instagram.com/thegymnasticsplus
Learn more about Gymnastics Plus and our Mission: https://gymnasticsplus.org/recruiting-mindset-for-gymnasts/
