Ian Makowske is entering his second season as administrative assistant with the Michigan men's gymnastics program after an outstanding four-year career on the team (2008-11). A four-time varsity letterwinner, and two-time NCAA All-American on high bar, Makowske claimed runner-up on the apparatus at the 2010 and 2011 NCAA Championships. In 2011 he also claimed the Big Ten high bar title and was tabbed All-Big Ten Conference First Team. Additionally, he was part of the 2010 NCAA Championship squad, playing an instrumental role in the fourth NCAA Team Championship in school history.
Makowske also excelled in the classroom at U-M, earning CoSIDA Academic All-American District IV second team honors in 2010. He collected the Michigan Athletic Academic Achievement award and CGA Scholastic All-American distinction all four years in Ann Arbor, and was an Academic All-Big Ten Selection as a sophomore, junior and senior. Lastly, he earned Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholar accolades in his final two seasons. Makowske graduated with honors from the College of Literature, Sciences, & Arts in 2011 with an undergraduate degree in English.
His responsibilities as administrative assistant lie in assisting the coaching staff in all aspects of the program, and day-to-day operations.
Makowske still trains and competes as a sponsored elite athlete for the Connecticut-based non-profit Mikey's Way, which provides pediatric cancer patients with electronic games to help them cope with the fear, boredom, and isolation of treatment.
Makowske's parents, Gabrielle and John, both attended the University of Michigan, and his grandfather and uncle were members of the U-M baseball team. His sister Hannah is a freshman on the women's track and field team.