GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Former U.S. National Team member, collegiate All-American and current National Collegiate Assistant Coach of the Year Jenny Rowland is the next Florida gymnastics head coach, UF Athletics Director Jeremy Foley announced on Saturday.
Just last month, Rowland was named co-National Assistant Coach of the Year after helping Auburn reach the NCAA Super Six for the first time in 22 years. She is the seventh head gymnastics coach in the program’s 43-year history.
“I’m so excited for this opportunity to become the Gator gymnastics head coach," Rowland said. "Obviously, Rhonda [Faehn] has built Gator gymnastics into a model program. A key focus for me will be developing relationships with the current and past Gators, as well as building a connection with the gymnasts who will represent the Gators in the future.
“Jeremy Foley, Lynda Tealer and I all share a vision of continued success for Gator gymnastics. I look forward to working with this tremendous group of Gators and being a part of the Florida program.”
Rowland joined the Auburn coaching staff as an assistant coach in October 2010 and was elevated to associate head coach in March 2013. Rowland worked with all aspects of the Auburn gymnastics program, coordinating all of the program's community outreach efforts and interactions on campus, as well as playing an integral role in recruiting and in-gym activities.
She served as the lead balance beam coach, as the Tigers put up the top beam totals of 2015 Southeastern Conference and NCAA Semifinal II competition. Three Tigers earned beam All-American honors in 2015. She also worked with the Tigers’ floor exercise and routine construction. Rowland, who is a Category 3 International Brevet judge, offered her judging expertise through video breakdown of Auburn's routines.
During her gymnastics career, Rowland was a USA National Team member from 1985-1990 and was part of the U.S.’s 1989 World Championships team. During her collegiate career, she earned All-American honors for the uneven bars in 1993 for Arizona State.
After retiring from competition, she returned to her home state, enrolling at the University of Oklahoma. She coached Elite gymnasts at Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy in Norman, Oklahoma, for five years and then joined the Oklahoma coaching staff in June of 2001. At OU, she helped coach the Sooners to the 2004 Big XIII title, three-time team NCAA qualifiers (2004-06) and three Big XIII Gymnasts of the Year.
