For Penn State men's gymnastics assistant coach Kevin Tan, the possibilities are endless.

After all, Tan has the unique opportunity to win two team national championships here at No. 2 Penn State (14-1, 2-1 Big Ten).

Only this time around, it will have to come from the sidelines.

When Tan first won a team national title in 2004 as a senior, he finished off a career that saw him win two consecutive individual national championships on the still rings.

Now in his second year on the coaching staff, Tan has the chance to win again.

And the winning might not end there.

Tan is still an active gymnast and competed on the United States senior national team for the 2006 World Championships in Denmark, where he was named team captain.

Already on the national team for the 2007 World Championships in Germany, Tan has hopes for competing at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

So with all of Tan's accomplishments, Penn State head coach Randy Jepson said it was a no-brainer to bring Tan on staff as an assistant.

"He's just a tremendous person. He has great integrity and work ethic. He fits in well," Jepson said. "He wiggles behind the scenes. It was an opportunity to pursue his dream, to see through his dream."

But despite all of his prospects, Tan sees himself as both coach and gymnast.

In fact, he said he is much more focused on the NCAA Championships for the Lions next month than on any individual goals.

Tan thinks highly of this year's team, currently ranked No. 2 in the nation. While Penn State has had some rich history, including 11 team titles, he says this team is a special one.

"This is a very close team. There are almost no problems with their personalities," Tan said. "They work hard. This team is very talented. They know that, but they work to get to where they need to be."

As such a young coach, Tan has found out what it's like to be on the other side of the meet.

And he's been struck by how difficult it is to be a coach at times.

Tan says he now is involved in recruiting, which takes time and effort, an aspect that is often overlooked and taken for granted by the athletes.

All the pressure does lead to some stress, but it is not unbearable.

"There is always stress. But it's a sport I have been doing for a long time, so you learn to adapt to the stress," Tan said. "Actually, I'm stressed more for the guys. You learn to cope with it."

Tan said he has a lot of praise for head coach Jepson and fellow assistant coach Slava Boiko.

Tan said that while Jepson and Boiko bring the experience and wisdom, he said it is easier for him to relate to the athletes because he is not much older than the gymnasts. And the individuals on the team back this up.

"He understands because he had the hard workouts. He helps us push through at the end of practice," senior captain Matt Cohen said. "He understands what we go through."

Tan and Cohen have known each other since Cohen was 13 and both were training at a gym in California.

And both men look to be key ingredients to a Penn State victory at the NCAA championships in Rec Hall in April, and bring Tan yet another title.