Clemson University announced Tuesday that Amy Smith will serve as the inaugural head coach of the college’s women’s gymnastics program.
Smith recently completed her fifth season as head coach at Utah State. Under Smith’s direction, the Aggies have set numerous program records: After capturing their first-ever MRGC championship title, they closed out the 2022 season at the Norman regional with the third-highest team score in school history and finishing 23rd overall (the team’s highest ranking since placing 15th in 1998).
Smith’s appointment comes nearly a year after the university first announced it would be sponsoring a gymnastics team beginning in the 2023 – 2024 season, prompting the Atlantic Coast Conference to also sponsor the sport that year. Three other ACC schools currently participate in women’s gymnastics in the EAGL conference: N.C. State, North Carolina and Pittsburgh.
Smith is no stranger to EAGL/ACC gymnastics. Prior to her time at Utah State, Smith spent five seasons coaching at North Carolina alongside Derek Galvin. She was promoted to associate head coach in 2014 and named 2017 EAGL Assistant Coach of the Year. She also completed assistant coaching stints at Missouri and her alma mater, UCLA, as well as serving as a volunteer assistant coach and choreographer at Florida and Kentucky.
Jeff Kallin, Clemson’s associate athletics director of communications and strategic initiatives, previously told CGN that the university is committed to ensuring the program’s success. Earlier this year, Clemson’s Board of Trustees approved plans for a lakeside women’s sports facility that would include a 21,000 square foot state-of-the-art gymnastics complex.
Article by Claire Billman
Like what you see? Consider donating to support our efforts throughout the year! [wpedon id=”13158″]
One comment