Full Name Jenny Ester Employer University of Florida Name Jenny Rowland Predecessor Rhonda Faehn | Occupation Gymnastics coach Term 2015-present Alma mater University of Oklahoma | |
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Born July 19, 1971 (age 52) ( 1971-07-19 ) Bedford, Texas Education Arizona State University Title Head coach of Florida Gators gymnastics Spouse(s) Garon Rowland
(m. 1998-present) Residence Alachua County, Florida, United States | ||
SEC Feature - Jenny Rowland's Evolution as a Coach (Florida Coach) - Alabama at Florida 2018
Jenny Rowland (nee Ester) (born July 19, 1971) is an American college gymnastics coach and former artistic gymnast. She is currently the head coach of the Florida Gators gymnastics program; succeeding former head coach Rhonda Faehn. Previously, she has held notable positions on both the Auburn Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners women's gymnastics teams.
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Personal life
Jenny Ester was born on July 19, 1971 in Bedford, Texas to Bonnie Ester. She lived in Florida for a while
In 1985, at the age of 11, she was cast in sports drama movie American Anthem as Tracy Prescott; a young gymnast.She lived in Phoenix, Arizona for three months throughout this period. In 1988, she moved to Oklahoma to train under new coaches.
Ester started attending Arizona State University in the fall of 1993 and attended for one academic year. She transferred to University of Oklahoma and graduated in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in Health and Sports Sciences.
In the August of 1998, Jenny married Oklahoma Sooners gymnast Garon Rowland. The couple have two daughters; Ella and Emmy.
Gymnastics career
Ester started her gymnastics career at LaFleur's Gymnastics in Largo, Florida under the tutelage of Toni LaFleur. 1987 was her inaugural season an elite gymnast; placing 13th at U.S. Nationals. In 1988, she moved to Oklahoma to train at Gymnastics Country USA under renowned coach Kristy Krafft. She was the American Classic Champion and was fifth at Nationals.
Ester moved up to the senior level in 1989. She took home a bronze medal at the American Classic and was fourth in the all-around at U.S. Nationals. She earned an invitation to the US Worlds Team Trials competition and placed seventh in the all-around nd was named as a reserve. In 1990, she competed at the U.S. Olympic Festival in Minneapolis but had a tough competition. Shortly after this competition, Ester sustained a serious back injury which required her vertebrae to be fused. She was sidelined for just under two years.
In 1992, Ester returned to competition but opted not to return to elite gymnastics. She returned to Level 9 and was preparing for collegiate gymnastics. She competed for the Arizona State Sun Devils gymnastics team for the 1993 and 1994 seasons. She was a 1993 All-American on uneven bars. Likewise, she was the first ever Sun Devil to earn a perfect 10.0 score on that event.
Coaching career
Rowland started coaching competitive club gymnastics at Bart Conner's Gymnastics Academy in Norman, Oklahoma in 1996; whilst she was studying at OU. Whilst at BCGA, she coached elite gymnast Angela Beam throughout her elite career. Jenny left Bart Conner's in 2000, after she'd been appointed the Assistant Coach to the Oklahoma Sooners women's gymnastics team. Rowland left the program in 2006.
After she'd left the Sooners, Rowland worked to get her elite brevet judging card and served as a judge at both 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials.
In October 5, 2010, Rowland joined the Auburn Tigers women's gymnastics program as an Assistant Coach. After two strong seasons with the Tigers, she was promoted to Associate Head Coach. In 2015, she was named NCAA Co-Assistant Coach of the Year along with colleague, Kurt Hettinger.
After the 2015 season, Rowland left the Auburn Gymnastics program and became the Head Coach of the Florida Gators gymnastics program.