Florida Gators Name Jenny Rowland as Gymnastics Coach

Jeremy Foley has earned himself a nap.

The University of Florida athletics director has hired Jenny Rowland as the next head coach of the Gators gymnastics team. This is on the heels of hiring Michael White as the new basketball coach earlier in the week.

“A couple of dreams have come true this week”, Foley said on a conference call with local media on Saturday.

“Hiring people is what we do. You get the right coaches to take care of your program and we’ve done that week. But yea it’s time for a nap.”

While Foley is getting some much needed rest, Jenny Rowland will be getting to work.
Rowland comes to Gainesville after three years at Auburn University where she helped lead the Tigers as an assistant coach to their first Super Six in 22 years.
Also while on the Plains, Rowland was named the co-National Assistant Coach of the Year.

Rowland started coaching the collegiate level at her alma mater, Oklahoma. Five years with the Sooners saw the assistant coach help bring back a Big XII title and three Big XII gymnasts of the year.

Before coaching, the 40 year old Texas native spent years in the elite field, a fact that she now feels is an advantage as she feels very comfortable recruiting there, having lived it as a competitor, then as a coach and judge.

It was her time from 1985-1990 that will give her perhaps the most credibility with her future subjects. During that time, Rowland was a member of the USA National Team which included the 1989 USA World Championship Team.

After years of serving as an assistant coach though, Rowland was ready to grow.

“It wasn’t until recently that I knew I was ready to take the jump”, Rowland said on the same conference call with director Foley.

“Now it’s time to spread my wings and I’m ready to fly.”

Those wings have brought her to the O-Dome home where she’ll have to step into very big footsteps left by Rhonda Faehn.

After 13 seasons and three straight national championships, Faehn resigned from Florida to take a position as the Senior Vice President with USA Gymnastics.

Faehn and Rowland have actually been friends for years, after both being apart of the USA National Team.

“Rhonda has been a huge impact on my life…I can’t thank her enough for all the support she’s given me. She’s given me all the blessings in the world [and] her support and faith in me to take the reins.”

That support was crucial to Jeremy Foley as well.

“Her strongest advocate was Rhonda who has a lot of credibility with us,” he laughingly reminded everyone.

“[But also] a great competitor…Auburns program this year as good as it has been in 22 years. Her reputation, character and integrity preceded her.”

Rowland says its actually been easy to take in that she’s the new head coach for the Florida Gators. And with that comes excitement.

“I was extremely humbled by the opportunity to come out and visit and even be considered for this honor. I feel like I’m a competitor and feel like [Jeremy] has seen that through my resume. I’m always looking to strive and achieve for greatness…Every season is definitely a new story and I look forward to building that story line. My expectation is a National Championship.”

She’ll have what she described as “golden talent” to chase a championship, with a team that will include returners like Alex McMurty, Kennedy Baker and Honda Award winner Bridget Sloan whom Rowland has known since Sloan was 12.

Together they’ll all chase another Gator national championship. That’s what Jenny Rowland has her sights set on, no matter who else is in her line of vision.

“[Rhonda] and I come from a similar breed and backgrounds. Our values and expectations are similar. I will be able to encourage and motivate the athletes…They know how to compete, they don’t like to lose. I’m the same way. It doesn’t matter who’s across the mat, if they’re my friend, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t want to win.”