Dana Duckworth steps down as head coach of Alabama Gymnastics, Taylor scores 28, leads No. It has been an absolute honor to compete for, recruit and coach so many amazing women who have been a part of the Alabama gymnastics family, said Duckworth. The University of Alabama's first gymnastics team debuted in 1975 and began with a loss to Georgia College. "Everyone we've spoken to holds her in the highest regards as a coach, mentor and leader, including long-time head coach Sarah Patterson, who I've had wonderful conversations with during this search and I really appreciate her support. "Thank you to Greg Byrne and the amazing executive team for allowing me to share my vision, passion and commitment to student-athlete well-being and to the future of this storied program. The worst you can say about Dana, is that she ran a clean and talented program with genuine passion; that she did so under the most difficult situations imaginable: following in the footsteps of living legend. All rights reserved. Fisk University is the first historically Black college or university to have a gymnastics team. From there, an investigation, completely separate from athletics, took place. During that time, she was part of three NCAA team championships, six Southeastern Conference championships and 17 NCAA regional team championships. That doesnt seem to be a joke thats appropriate, especially in a professional team setting. The Alabama Crimson Tide gymnastics is a Division I gymnastics team representing the University of Alabama in NCAA competition. Junior Lexi Graber came in clutch for the Tide as she scored a season-best 39.475 in the all-around, including a 9.900 on the floor exercise and 9.875 on the balance beam to clinch the win for Alabama. Gambling problem? TUSCALOOSA, Ala. Since 1974, only two people have been the head coach of Alabama gymnastics, and as of Thursday afternoon, there will soon be a third. Did Notre Dames playcalling improve after Brian Kelly departed? ET on SEC Network. Alabama blossomed into a perennial contender under Sarah Patterson and continued to qualify for nationals as well as producing numerous All-Americans. It was Alabama's first win at LSU since 2013. We appreciate Coach Duckworths contributions to Alabama gymnastics, both as a coach and a student-athlete, said Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne. . Duckworth finishes up her coaching career with a 52-26-1 (.650) record and two SEC Titles. So how are we standing together? "It has been an absolute honor to compete for, recruit and coach so many amazing women who have been a part of the Alabama gymnastics family," Duckworth said in a school release. Duckworth finishes up her coaching career with a 52-26-1 (.650) record and two SEC Titles. Basketball (W) Schedule Roster News. Less than 16 months after winning a second SEC Gymnastics Championship, and on the heels of another NCAA Semis / Super 6 berth, Sarah Pattersons handpicked protege, Dana Duckworth, is hanging up the leotard. The season-long motto of "We Climb" for the LSU gymnastics team was reflected in the Tigers' national rankings Monday. Over her time as a Crimson Tide athlete, Duckworth won eight All-America awards and won consecutive NCAA balance beam titles, the last of which was during her last season in 1993 as she secured a perfect 10. [3] They finished the season in second place behind Georgia, their best result since 2005. And she did end up being a champion in Tuscaloosa with two team national titles in 2011 and 2012 and two team SEC titles in 2009 and 2011. The Tide first sold out Coleman Coliseum on February 1, 1997, when 15,043 fans watched Alabama take on Georgia; the Tide continues to report some of the highest fan turnout of any program, with an average attendance at home meets in 2014 of 12,826 (second only to Utah). DDs have a team-mate committed there so was a relief for her! 1996 University of Alabama gymnastics coaches Sarah Patterson and David Patterson 1995 Ken Swindle, Ted Sexton and Dempsey Marcum 1994 Bessie Aubrey and Myrtle Gray 1993 Dr. Joyce. A rivalry between Alabama and Georgia, which endures to this day, began around this time. Just when Bama is starting to show signs of resurgence. Decker Kirkpatrick. As the host school in 2014, Alabama won their eighth SEC Championship with a team score of 197.875, but fell to fourth place at Nationals after having to count a fall. Throughout this process with Ashley, we've been very impressed with her commitment to the total student-athlete. 1 and wherever Alabama happened to be that year, seemingly grew and grew. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Ashley Priess-Johnston has been named the head coach of The University of Alabama gymnastics program, UA Director of Athletics Greg Byrne announced Monday. Kiaku also referred to use of a racial slur in her post as well as implicit biases, stereotyping, grouping terminology and statements with underlying racism but didnt give specific incidents with those. Kiaku also shared how the incident was reported in a complaint to the University Office of Title IX Compliance, and what the response was after their full investigation: They deemed it a bad joke and (the assistant coach involved in the allegation) is still coaching at The University of Alabama. She said during her recruiting process, she was looking for a place would lead her on the journey to becoming a champion, and knew Alabama would be that place. 8 . George, Robin I have all the confidence in the world in this team and wish nothing but great things for their future.". [2] Her first team finished the year 7-7 and she followed up in 1980 with the first winning season in school history. The 2019 WGCA Central Region Assistant coach of the Year in her first season with Auburn, Johnston started her collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Illinois during the 2018 season. Quinlan, Justin "It has been an absolute honor to compete for, recruit and coach so many amazing women who have been a part of the Alabama gymnastics family," said Duckworth. June 3, 2020 8:13 pm CT Former University of Alabama gymnast, Tia Kiaku, shared via Instagram, that she had been involved in a "very disturbing" incident that included a racially inappropriate. More:Alabama gymnastics season ends in NCAA Championships semifinals, Dana Duckworth talks Suni Lee:'Great for college gymnastics', "We appreciate Coach Duckworth's contributions to Alabama gymnastics, both as a coach and a student-athlete," Alabama athletics directorGreg Byrne said in a school release. Sarah Patterson is a former collegiate gymnastics coach. Former Duckworth assistant and Alabama gymnast Gina Quinlan was named interim coach as the search for Duckworth's successor begins. Roll Tide Wire will keep you up to date on the very latest! Johnston and her husband Jason, have a son, Colton. like Talladega College in Alabama. Alabama gymnastics coach Dana Duckworth resigned from her position after eight years leading the program, the university announced Thursday afternoon. I have seen a myriad of news stories of Coaches saying inappropriate/racist statements such as this who are no longer in a leadership position. You are using an out of date browser. "She has had a lot of success over the years as a coach and as a leader in the community, and we wish Dana and her family all the best going forward.". University of Alabama Athletics Main Header Main Navigation Menu Sports Baseball Basketball (M) Basketball (W) Football Golf (M) Golf (W) Gymnastics Rowing Soccer Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis (M) Tennis (W) Track & Field, Cross Country Volleyball General Athletics A-Club Athletic Student Services Athletics Communications Camps/Clinics For those who are unfamiliar with . I cherish the relationships made by being a part of this program and our alumni sisterhood. Alabama's seventh head gymnastics coach since 1974, Johnston is just the third since 1979. Paradise, Rachel She was a 2010 graduate from Thompson High School. I have all the confidence in the world in this team and wish nothing but great things for their future.". She won the US Nationals gold medal, and was on the US National team for six years as a member of the 2012 Olympic-champion Fierce Five. FLOOR MSU earned three scores of 9.900 or higher to contribute to its 49.425 score on floor in the second rotation. The Power of Pink is the name given to one of the Crimson Tide's home meets each season in which all the participants and fans wear pink to support breast cancer awareness. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. In a room packed with current gymnasts, former gymnasts, current Alabama head coaches like Nate Oats and Kristy Curry, and former head coaches, Ashley Priess-Johnston was officially introduced as Alabama gymnastics' newest head coach. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Legendary Alabama gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson is stepping down as the Crimson Tide's head coach after 36 seasons, 1,006 wins and 43 postseason championships, she announced Tuesday morning. This decision was not an easy one as I am forever grateful to our student-athletes, their families, my staff and fellow coaches. All rights reserved. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. The Alabama Crimson Tide gymnastics is a Division I gymnastics team representing the University of Alabama in NCAA competition. Duckworth has been a part of three national championships (2002, 2011, 2012)as an assistant and two SEC championships(2015, 2021)ashead coach. Getting the most out of them has; it has been the little things that have cost Bama points on the board and seen them fall behind their contemporaries even as the rest of the SEC has rapidly caught up: hand checks, bobbles, landings, and a mindblowing inability to field a consistently elite vaulting lineup commensurate with the rest of the squad. rolltide.com R. rlm's mom. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 4 Denver. During that time, she was part of three NCAA team championships, six Southeastern Conference championships and 17 NCAA regional team championships. Gladieux, Zoe If #WeStandTogether, lets truly stand together and address inappropriate issues that are happening inside programs like the University of Alabama. For almost 30 years Duckworth has been a mainstay of the Tide Gymnastics program. In the midst of that complaint, Dana calls Tia's mom and casually suggests that her daughter is a slut and is probably a slut because her dad isn't in the picture. In the latest ITA . Saturday's meet was the Crimson Tide's first quad meet of the season. Robbins, associate athletics director since 1996 and senior women's administrator since 2001, has oversight duties with women's basketball, gymnastics, softball, volleyball and the men and. Dana Duckworth steps down as Alabama Gymnastics head coach (University of Alabama Athletics) By WBRC Staff Published: May. She used her retirement from collegiate and elites well Dana picked up an MBA and postgrad degrees at Alabamas Business school, then ventured into coaching in 1999. Last season, the Crimson Tide set records throughout the season with three scores of 198 or better, but fell short in the semifinals with a 197.100. The cupboard was hardly empty either: Duckworth inherited a team that had one previous All-American (Lauren Beers, Floor 2013), and another who would go on to claim two national crowns of her own (Katie Bailey: Vault 2016, Uneven Bars 2017). During her her eight seasons, three gymnasts would claim individual national titles: Louisa Blanco (Beam. News Gymnastics Gymnastics . Program scoring went up almost .850 points in her tenure. Gallery: Gymnastics vs Alabama February 26, 2023 Gymnastics Posts Season High Road Score; Defeats No. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. Check out our college gymnastics schedule (beta) and let us know how to make it better? Alabama's win at the 2014 Seattle Regional marked Patterson's thousandth career win.[3]. Johnston takes over Alabama's gymnastics program following four years at Auburn, where she finished her tenure as associate head coach. We are a department that is committed to providing a just and inclusive community for all of our student-athletes, coaches and staff, operating with integrity and respect.. College Gymnastics Schedule (College Gym Talk), College Recruiting experience, insights and opinions. With the first team acting as a club sport In 1972, The University of Alabama Gymnastics Team existed and competed with such teams as Jacksonville State until it was later sanctioned as a viable gymnastic team in 1975. "I look forward to connecting with all of you around campus around town or wherever our paths may cross,"Johnston said. Ashley Priess-Johnston Named Head Coach of Alabama Gymnastics - University of Alabama Athletics. However, 1997 saw the Crimson Tide fail to reach the Super Six for the first time since 1983. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Coming off a pair of top-10 wins over No. The Tide hosts its home matches in Coleman Coliseum on the university's Tuscaloosa, Alabama campus. 8 Alabama to close out the SEC competition season. During her tenure, she built the program at the University of Alabama into one of the most successful in the history of college gymnastics. Copyright 2022 WBRC. She inherited a Hogs squad that had won just four SEC meets in the previous four seasons, and slowly started turning them around: winning two meets her first season, and three her next. "We appreciate Coach Duckworth's contributions to Alabama gymnastics, both as a coach and a student-athlete," said Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. But, even then, critics lay the claim that Alabamas floor is very much stuck in the past, with little variation from year to year, and with little opportunity for the ladies personality to shine; that Alabama has relied on powerful, dominant floor athletes for scoring, and has not kept up with modern high-energy floor routines that squads like UCLA have made famous. Jordyn Wieber. Sign up for the Roll Tide Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. The University of Alabama is a special place and I care deeply about the gymnastics program, but after 27 years of involvement, I have decided to step down and focus on my family for now. If true that Dana forged students signatures..still on some level it doesn't make sense that she would feel that much pressure or compelled to do something like that? Ashley Priess Johnston , has been hired as the new head coach. Hudson, Lillian And Tuscaloosa is home for Johnston, who spent five years as a gymnast for the Crimson Tide from 2009-2013. TUSCALOOSA, AL University of Alabama gymnastics coach Dana Duckworth has resigned after eight seasons, the university athletic department confirmed in an announcement on Thursday. In 2007, the Tide marked their first absence from the Super Six since 1997. "It has been an absolute honor to compete for, recruit and coach so many amazing women who have been a part of the Alabama gymnastics family," said Duckworth. No. 24 Texas A&M over No. Alabama has now won two straight meets, and advance to 2-2 for the season. 1988 also marked the Tide's first SEC title, when the competition was hosted in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. "This decision was not an easy one as I am forever grateful to our student-athletes, their families, my staff and fellow coaches. Alabama Gymnastics - the six-time NCAA Champions, 32-time NCAA Regional Champions and 10-time Southeastern Conference Champions The Alabama Gymnastics team has won six NCAA Championships (2012, 2011, 2002, 1996, 1991, 1998), 32 NCAA Regional titles and 10 Southeastern Conferenc See more 89,389 people like this 100,067 people follow this The University of Alabama Aug 2008 - Oct 20113 years 3 months Tuscaloosa, Alabama Gymnastics Coach Champions Gymnastics Aug 2005 - Jul 20083 years Jonesboro, Arkansas Women's. She would add eight more straight regional appearances for the Tide. Kiaku transferred to Alabama from Ball State following the 2018 season. Anne Deskin began coaching in 2012. - The Alabama-UIC baseball game scheduled for today has been moved back to a 6 p.m. CT first pitch at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Something that seems like a very inappropriate (racist) statement to me was just deemed as a very bad joke by Alabama! In fact, it should be unacceptable across the board! Name Events Class Height Hometown Club Gym/Previous School ; Norah Flatley She was also a gymnast at Alabama from 1990-1993. While practicing, one of the black gymnasts said look all the black girls are all on the same event responding to the statement, the Assistant Coach walked over and said What is this, the back of the bus? Something that seems like a very inappropriate (racist) statement to me was just deemed as a very bad joke by Alabama! Subscribe to our WBRC newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email. The experiences we shared will stay with me for the rest of my life. After her retirement, she became an Assistant Coach for the UCLA Bruins where she specialized in those exciting Floor routines that have captivated the nation, including coaching viral sensation Katelyn Ohashi. Gymnastics Coaches - University of Alabama Athletics Skip To Main Content Pause All Rotators Skip To Main Content University of Alabama Athletics Main Header Main Navigation Menu Sports Baseball Basketball (M) Basketball (W) Football Golf (M) Golf (W) Gymnastics Rowing Soccer Softball Swimming & Diving Tennis (M) Tennis (W) Ashley Priess-Johnston introduced as new Alabama gymnastics coach. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. Dana Duckworth has elected to step down as head coach of Alabama gymnastics following her eighth season at the helm. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. [3] She would defend her All-Around title in 1986 while also winning the floor title. "And we could see very early on why she was so highly regarded. 9 Alabama, 197.975-197.925 It is perhaps telling that in 2021, one of Alabamas least powerful athletes, the lithe Lexi Graber, won her national title on the floor shying away from vertical, muscular tumbling passes, and instead emphasized her artistry, grace and dancing abilities. Alabama went into their final rotation in fourth place before scoring the highest team vault total in NCAA history as all their gymnasts scored 9.9 or higher, with junior Kim Kelly capping off the night with a perfect 10.[3]. Rybicki, Mati "The first conversations by Zoom, we were incredibly impressed with her ability to communicate, share her vision, talk about the gymnastics world, and especially the University of Alabama," Byrne said. [2], In 1995, the Tide won their third SEC Tournament championship in Gainesville. Penney Hauschild 1985; Stephanie Woods 1996; Andre Pickens 2002; This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 04:59. Duckworth took over the head role in 2014 for the legendary Sarah Patterson who she was an assistant coach under for 15 years. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) - Dana Duckworth stepped down as head coach of Alabama Gymnastics following her eighth season. However, the team never finished higher than third at nationals in Duckworth's tenure, and the Crimson Tide hasn't made the finals at NCAAs since 2017. In 2003, the Tide won their fifth SEC title with the youngest squad in program history, with seven freshman, three sophomores, three juniors and one senior.