Duckworth steps down as Gymnastics coach

Alright, Greg. Nail this hire.

What the frick?


I know she has her detractors on here... but no one can deny that going into this off-season, we're in the best spell of her whole tenure here.

Still have a fresh SEC Championship Trophy in the case, have the #1 signed recruiting class coming in, have the #2 class the following year all but wrapped up. Just finished the highest scoring year in program history, even above Sarah. Everything about this team was trending up...


what the frick.

I’ll be honest, I’m a bit scared he won’t. His coaching hires thus far at Bama haven’t turned out all that well other than Oats unless I’m not remembering correctly.

The timing of this is odd. The news seemed to catch everyone off guard so it doesn’t appear to be something that has been in the works for weeks. If she was being fired for performance, why not do it right after the return from Ft Worth in April? Maybe he wanted some change in the program that she didn’t want to make? Or maybe she didn’t care for his end of the year evaluation of the program? Her family is firmly rooted in Tuscaloosa so I can’t image her leaving for another coaching job in another state. Of the various thank you’s in her prepared statement, the Athletic Department leadership was not among them. It will eventually come out. How quickly he makes a hire and who he hires might shed some light on the sequence of events that lead up to today.

Ashley Priess-Johnston Named Head Coach of Alabama Gymnastics

The 10-time All-American and two-time Crimson Tide graduate was part of back-to-back NCAA Championship teams during her time at the Capstone

Ashley Priess-Johnston has been named the head coach of The University of Alabama gymnastics program, UA Director of Athletics Greg Byrne announced Monday. Johnston will be formally introduced at a press conference on Friday.

"We are beyond excited to have Ashley Johnston take over the reins of our gymnastics program as our head coach," Byrne said. "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. Throughout this process with Ashley, we've been very impressed with her commitment to the total student-athlete. One of the grittiest and most accomplished competitors in our program's proud history, she has translated her achievements as a gymnast into a standout career as a coach, and we are thrilled to have her back in Tuscaloosa."

A 10-time Crimson Tide All-American and member of back-to-back NCAA Championship teams, Johnston was legendary for coming up with huge routines when the stakes were the highest, securing her place in Crimson Tide lore when she closed out the 2012 NCAA Championships with a near-perfect balance beam routine to clinch Alabama's sixth national team title.

"I am honored to be trusted as your new head gymnastics coach," said Johnston. "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. I look forward to reconnecting with each and every one of you. With a very full heart, I want to say, 'Thank you,' and 'Roll Tide!'"

Johnston takes over Alabama's gymnastics program following four years at Auburn, where she finished her tenure as associate head coach. She helped lead the Tigers to a fourth-place national finish last season, their highest in program 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.

Johnston began her coaching career at the Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy, where she worked with CGA head coach Mary Lee Tracy at the Elite and developmental level, while coaching the floor exercise and balance beam optional program.

Alabama's seventh head gymnastics coach since 1974, Johnston is just the third since 1979. The Crimson Tide has won six NCAA Championships (1988, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2011, 2012), 10 SEC Championships and an NCAA-best 32 regional titles.

She may end up being good.

But I'm not a fan of hiring ex-players as coaches. Example Mike Dubose, Mike Shula, Dana Duckworth, Mark Gottfried.

It's like the people doing the hiring doesn't want to take the time or trouble of searching for a good coach.

An article you posted earlier with that gymnastics round table speculated that she was the favorite from the get go. Hopefully she returns us back to being a dominant program.

Ashley Priess stood out for a number of reasons.

Her tenure at Auburn coincided with them SHOOTING into relevance even before Suni Lee set foot on the plains.

Before coming to Auburn she was an assistant when Illinois where they improved, and before that was a certified gymnastics judge, as well as staying involved in the club gymnastics scene.

Ashley Priess being an young alum means she will likely keep on the current assistants. This is a big deal considering we are currently trying to hold down the #1 and #2 classes over the next two years from the other SEC programs who undoubtedly reached for their phones as soon as Dana's resignation went public.

Ashley will instantly have support from the boosters, alumni and current squad, most of whom already know her. All that #wareagle-ing over last few years can be forgiven, we know you didn't mean it, Ash!