By Sara Biela
For the first time in 17 years, a new face will lead San Jose State’s gymnastics program.
Former head coach Wayne Wright announced his retirement in early July. Nearly a month later, the position was filled by the 2009 West Region Coach of the Year: Joanne Bowers.
“I’m so excited to be back in NCAA gymnastics,” Bowers said. “To be able to do what I absolutely have a passion for and love … it’s a dream come true.”
Bowers knows the Division I level all too well. Her 24-year coaching career began in 1990 at Illinois State University.
She spent three seasons with the Redbirds before joining Kent State University in 1997. Current KSU gymnastics head coach Brice Biggin worked alongside Bowers, and is certain the Spartans gained an asset.
“She is one of the best and purest people I know, both as a coach and as a mentor,” Biggin told SJSU Athletics. “She’ll be an inspiration at SJSU and I’m really excited for her, the student-athletes and the university. You’ve got a winner.”
After four seasons with the Golden Flashes, Bowers took her talents three hours west to the University of Michigan for five seasons as an assistant coach.
She then embraced a Pac-12 head coaching opportunity at the University of Washington — where she met SJSU’s Director of Athletics Marie Tuite.
“I worked with Tuite at UW, and I absolutely adore her,” said Bowers. “I love her value system and it fits for what I’m looking for.”
Tuite stated that her good friend shared the same essential values as she does.
When it was time to find a new head coach, Tuite knew that the 2007 Pac-12 Coach of the Year was a perfect fit.
“I have known coach Bowers for a long time … and there is no question that she is an excellent coach,” Tuite told SJSU Athletics. “This hire is a ‘perfect 10’ for our women’s gymnastics program.”
On her announcement day on August 9, Bowers stated that one of her first responsibilities as head coach will be to build team chemistry.
She continued to say that it’s important for her to touch base with her entire unit, as well as for the group to get to know her.
“I need to do some listening,” she said. “I need to see what’s working for them, what isn’t and what they need from me. Every team is unique.”
During her 10-year term with the Huskies that began in 2007, Bowers led her teams to the NCAA West Regionals every year.
Now, she will look to continue that success into 2018 with the back-to-back Mountain Pacific Sports Federation champions.
“I think it’s going to be a wonderful partnership,” Bowers concluded. “I’m super excited.”
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