By Chris Estrada
The San Jose State gymnastics team has found its new head coach for the 2018 season.
The Spartans were on the hunt for a new trainer after former head coach Wayne Wright announced retirement last month after 17 years with the program.
SJSU’s Director of Athletics Marie Tuite said Thursday that former West Region Coach of the Year Joanne Bowers will take over the position.
“There is no question Joanne is an excellent coach,” Tuite told SJSU Athletics. “However more importantly, she embraces the core values I have for our Athletics program.”
Bowers has a track record of repeated success at the Division I level. She began her coaching career at Illinois State University from 1990-1993 before her time at Kent State from 1997-2001.
From 2001-2006 she was an assistant coach for University of Michigan prior to being the head coach at University of Washington from 2007-2016.
Through her 10-year tenure at Washington, she led the gymnastics team to the NCAA West Regionals every year and sent individuals to NCAA Nationals in seven different seasons.
The relationship between Bowers and Tuite may have helped bring the 2009 West Region Coach of the Year to San Jose State.
“Working with Marie at Washington was special. She and I share a similar vision for hard-working, high-integrity people that will do things the right way,” Bowers told SJSU Athletics.
Bowers brings 24 years of experience with 14 as a head coach. The gymnastics team heads into the 2018 season as back-back Mountain Pacific Sports Federation champions.
Last season, gymnastics also participated in NCAA Regionals. Expectations for this upcoming season will be high.
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