Alabama gymnastics hires Auburn associate head coach Ashley Priess-Johnston to be next coach

Nick Kelly, The Tuscaloosa News
·2 min read
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Alabama gymnastics didn't wait long to name a successor to Dana Duckworth.

Duckworth announced her resignation last Thursday, and the Crimson Tide announced the hire of Ashley Priess-Johnston on Monday as the program's next leader.

She most recently served as Auburn's associate head coach and was a 10-time Crimson Tide All-American during her college career. She was also a member of NCAA championship teams in 2011 and 2012. Alabama also won the SEC championship twice during her time with the Crimson Tide.

"I am honored to be trusted as your new head gymnastics coach,” Johnston said in a statement. “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!’”

More: Dana Duckworth, Alabama gymnastics' championship-winning coach, steps down from program

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Priess-Johnston is just the third Alabama gymnastics coach since 1979.

Prior to her four years at Auburn, Priess-Johnston began her collegiate coaching career at Illinois in 2018. She started as a coach with Cincinnati Gymnastics Academy.

She was also a seven-year member of the USA National Team as an 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," Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne said in a statement, "and we are thrilled to have her back in Tuscaloosa.”

Alabama gymnasts gather in a hallway and chant together as they get ready to compete in the the SEC Gymnastics Championship at Legacy Arena in Birmingham Saturday, March 19, 2022.
Alabama gymnasts gather in a hallway and chant together as they get ready to compete in the the SEC Gymnastics Championship at Legacy Arena in Birmingham Saturday, March 19, 2022.

Priess-Johnston graduated with her bachelor's degree in Spanish in 2011 and her master's degree in marketing in 2013.

She will be formally introduced at a press conference Friday.

Nick Kelly covers Alabama football and men's basketball for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter: @_NickKelly

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama gymnastics hires Ashley Priess-Johnston as new head coach