CHAPEL HILL – Danna Durante, who led the College of Ga to three Super 6 appearances and is a 20-year university coaching veteran, has been named head coach of the College of North Carolina’s gymnastics system.
“Danna’s commitment to excellence in the gym and the classroom is properly-documented, and she has a proven track file of accomplishment with elite applications,” states Carolina Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham. “She is a leader, instructor and winner, and she is an superb addition to the Carolina Family. We are on the lookout ahead to seeing Tar Heel gymnastics continue to mature below Coach Durante’s leadership.”
The Tulsa, Okla., indigenous returns to coaching following paying out four years recruiting top talent for govt groups for Fortune 500 firms and serving as functions director for What Drives Successful.
She led Georgia’s gymnastics program from 2012-2017, where the Gymdogs created five straight NCAA Championship appearances (2013-17), which includes Super 6 appearances in 2013, 2014 and 2016.
“The potential of Carolina Gymnastics is limitless. The present-day and incoming athletes are not only gifted gymnasts, but also tremendous young ladies,” says Durante. “I seem ahead to spending time with every single of them in the coming weeks and truly receiving to know them.”
She will become Carolina’s fourth head gymnastics mentor Derek Galvin, who coached the Tar Heels for 39 several years, retired in June of 2020
“The athletic and educational excellence at the University of North Carolina speaks for by itself. The caliber of pupils that UNC draws is unparalleled and the athletic programs right here are held in significant regard,” claims Durante. “Derek Galvin constructed an amazingly powerful and empowering tradition at UNC and Marie Denick has ongoing to bolster that lifestyle. In addition to that sturdy foundation, there is a fantastic offer of likely within just this plan. I’m honored to direct Carolina Gymnastics and I seem forward to our journey alongside one another. I want to thank Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham, SWA Marielle vanGelder, and CFO Martina Ballen for their belief in my eyesight and the prospect to be aspect of the Carolina Household.”
Durante coached Georgia to a fifth-spot NCAA Championship end in 2014, sixth-spot finishes in 2013 and 2016, ninth in 2015 and 12th in 2017.
In 2016, she coached two NCAA particular person national champions – Brandie Jay (vault) and Brittany Rogers (bars).
20-four unique athletes earned 38 initial-group All-The usa awards throughout her tenure at Ga.
The Gymdogs earned a 100 % graduation price and 39 individuals built the SEC Academic Honor Roll. Her groups also garnered 30 NACGC Tutorial All-The us awards, and Noel Sofa gained a postgraduate scholarship in 2013.
Prior to her five-calendar year stint in Athens, Durante served as the head gymnastics mentor at the University of California in 2011-2012.
From 2002-2011, Durante expended nine seasons at the University of Nebraska and labored as the Huskers’ beam coach and choreographer. In 2007, she was promoted to affiliate head mentor, a place she held right until 2011.
Underneath her tutelage, Nebraska gymnasts attained 23 All-The usa awards and a fourth-place end at the 2011 NCAA Championship.
Just before coaching at Nebraska, Durante was an assistant mentor at the University of Washington, wherever she guided the Huskies to a seventh-area complete at the NCAA Championship and a 1999 NCAA West Regional title. For her endeavours with the Huskies, she was named the West Regional Assistant Coach of the 12 months in 1999 and 2002. Prior to her time at UW, she coached the Arizona Sunrays and Royal (Fla.) Gymnastics Clubs.
An spectacular gymnast in her individual suitable, Durante was a two-time member of the U.S. Gymnastics Federation in 1988 and 1990 and competent for the 1988 Olympic Trials. In addition to competing globally in Bulgaria, France, Germany, South Africa and Canada representing the United States, she won best honors in the all-all around in the 1986 and 1987 South African Cup.
An Elite Level Decide from 1996-2000, she graduated from Arizona State in 1995 with a bachelor’s diploma in training science. She turned in an illustrious collegiate job with the Sunshine Devils where by she was an All-Pac 10 gymnast from 1992-95 and scored 5 fantastic 10s.
Durante and her partner, Joe, have a daughter, Samantha, and two sons, Jaxson and Jordan.


Be aware: Danna Durante is pronounced DAN-nuh der-RAN-TEE


