Jenny Rowland Named Florida Gymnastics Coach
Saturday, May 9, 2015 | Gymnastics
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jenny Rowland - former U.S. National Team member, collegiate All-American and current National Collegiate Assistant Coach of the Year-is the University of Florida gymnastics head coach, UF Athletics Director Jeremy Foley announced 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.
Rowland's Coaching Career:
Rowland joined the Auburn coaching staff as an assistant coach in October of 2010 and was elevated to associate head coach in March of 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.
| Jenny (Ester) Rowland File |
| Birthdate: |
| July 18, 1974 in Bedford, Texas |
| Collegiate (Arizona State: 1993-94) |
| ● All-American on uneven bars in 1993 |
| ● Turned in the Sun Devils' first 10.0 uneven bars mark |
| ● Retired from competition due to injury, transferring to Oklahoma to finish degree |
| Elite |
| ● USA National Team member from 1985-90 |
| ● Member of 1989 USA World Championship team |
| Coaching Career |
| ● Auburn Associate Head Coach (2013-15) |
| ● Auburn Assistant Coach (October 2010 – March 2013) |
| ● Oklahoma Assistant Coach (2001-06) |
| ● Bart Conner Gymnastics Academy Elite Coach (1996-2000) |
| Other Notables: |
| ● A Category 3 International Brevet level judge (judged 2008 & 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials) |
| ● Starred as Tracy Prescott in the 1986 movie “American Anthem”, which also starred Maria Anz, who won Florida's first NCAA event title (floor exercise) in 1985 |
| ● Won the all-around title when Florida visited Arizona State for a Feb. 25, 1993 dual meet in Tempe, Ariz. |
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-America 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-America 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.
They Said:
“I'm so excited for this opportunity to become the Gator gymnastics head coach. 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.”
Jenny Rowland
Florida Gymnastics Head Coach
“When we started this search, there was one name that kept coming up - Jenny Rowland. What Auburn has done over the past few seasons is quite impressive and she's played a big role in the Tigers' progress. We feel confident she's ready to guide the Gator program.
“She wants Gator gymnasts to thrive in all aspects of their student-athletic career – in the classroom, in the competitive arena and in developing the life skills to be successful following college. She knows what is like to be a competitor on the national, international and collegiate stages. She has what it takes to be a successful recruiter as she's built relationships with so many in the gymnastics world.
“We welcome Jenny, her husband, Garon and their daughters Ella and Emmy, to the Gator program.”
Jeremy Foley
University of Florida Athletics Director
More Rowland Info:
She graduated from Oklahoma with a bachelor's degree in health and sports sciences in 1997. Rowland married Garon Rowland, an All-American gymnast for the Sooners, and the couple has two daughters – Ella and Emmy.
Rowland is replacing Rhonda Faehn, who announced April 24 she was leaving to become USA Gymnastics Senior Vice President. She coached the Gators for 13 seasons, leading the team to four Southeastern Conference crowns and the past three NCAA titles.
