CLEMSON, S.C. (Clemson Athletics) – Former Utah gymnast and nationally recognized club gymnastics coach, Jessie (Duke) McDonough, has joined the Clemson gymnastics staff as an assistant coach, it was announced today by co-head coaches Justin Howell and Elisabeth Crandall-Howell.

McDonough comes to Clemson from Olympus Gymnastics in Utah, where she led the club to USA Gymnastics Development Program Club of the Year honors in 2021. Olympus also achieved the highest Level 10 Team Score in the country in both 2023 and 2024. McDonough has served as the women’s head coach at Olympus since 2013.

“I am thrilled to get the opportunity to work with Jessie,” said Crandall-Howell. “I have been an admirer of her work at Olympus for many years, and have watched her continue to evolve into one of the best developmental coaches in the country. She cares deeply about the athletes she coaches, and is extremely committed to helping them find their strengths. I am honored that she has chosen to come to Tiger Town, and cannot wait to see her have an incredible impact on the Clemson gymnastics family.”

As the head coach, McDonough coached nine Developmental National Team Members, two Developmental National Beam Champions, and five Developmental National Floor Champions. She also trained and mentored two U.S. Developmental Team Members, guided four Hopes Elite Gymnasts, including the 2018 Hopes Champion, and produced one Junior Elite gymnast in 2023, showcasing a track record of national-level excellence.

Prior to being elevated to women’s head coach, McDonough served as the women’s assistant coach for compulsory and optional programs at Olympus beginning in 2009.

As a student-athlete, McDonough was a 2007 second-team All-American on bars at the University of Utah. She contributed to the Utes’ third-place finish at the 2005 NCAA Championships and three-straight runner-up finishes from 2006-2008.

In her junior career, McDonough was the Junior Olympic National All-Around Champion in 2000.

McDonough graduated from the University of Utah in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies. She and her husband, Quinn, have four children.

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NORTHFIELD, Vt.- The New England Hockey Conference (NEHC) announced its 2024–25 All-Academic Team for women’s ice hockey on Wednesday. Fifteen players on the Norwich Women’s Ice Hockey team earned recognition for their academic performance and commitment to excellence in the classroom.

To qualify for the NEHC All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must carry a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and have completed at least one full academic year at their institution.

 

As graduate students, Archambault and Clark receive All-Academic team recognition for the fourth time, while Girouard receives it for the third time as the lone senior. Of the 15 honorees, six are sophomores in their first year of eligibility for the All-Academic Team.

In the final season of NEHC competition, the Cadets finished with a berth in the conference title game. The maroon and gold look to continue their excellent tradition in the Little East Conference (LEC) under new Head Coach Justin Simpson.

 

 

DENVER – The University of Denver gymnastics team has added Mary Rice as an assistant coach, Joy S. Burns Head Women’s Gymnastics Coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart announced on Thursday.
 
“We’re incredibly excited to have Mary Rice join the Denver Gymnastics family,” Kutcher-Rinehart said. “She’s experienced, accomplished and knowledgeable, and will bring her passion and enthusiasm for the sport to our program. She is a dedicated, hardworking and thoughtful coach who can teach from the basics all the way to the highest level. She’ll complement (fellow new assistant coach) Megan Haught wonderfully as both of them know how to balance technical coaching with compassion, collaboration and communication, and will embrace our philosophy of character, teamwork and excellence. Together, Mary and Megan have fostered connections that will continue to move Denver Gymnastics forward.”
 
Rice has spent more than a decade coaching professionally, most recently serving as a full-time team coach for Level 9 and 10 gymnasts at Brandy Johnson’s Gymnastics in Clermont, Fla., since June 2020. She began her coaching career at Sun Country Gymnastics in Gainesville, Fla., in 2012, teaching athletes from beginner levels up to Level 10. In total, she has seen nearly 50 of her athletes compete at the USA Gymnastics Development Program National Championships and seven of them qualify for the prestigious Nastia Liukin Cup – including two all-around silver medalists. Fifteen of her gymnasts received Division I athletic scholarships as well.
 
Additionally, Rice is a USAG Level 10-rated judge, has served as a beam and floor choreographer, and developed conditioning programs at both Brandy Johnson’s and Sun Country.
 
“I am so excited and grateful to be joining the DU family,” Rice said. “To have the opportunity to be a part of such a historically successful program led by one of the most tenured head coaches in the NCAA was something I could not pass up. I am thrilled to be able to contribute my knowledge, passion and energy to Pioneers gymnastics, and I can’t wait to get started.”
 
Rice twice graduated from the University of Florida, first with a bachelor’s degree in applied physiology and kinesiology in 2011 before receiving her master’s degree in exercise physiology in 2014.
 
Rice will join Megan Haught as the newest members of the Denver gymnastics coaching staff ahead of the 2025-26 academic year.
 
The University of Denver gymnastics team finished the 2025 season ranked No. 13 nationally and reached its sixth consecutive NCAA Regional Final after tying with No. 4 Utah for first place and upsetting then-No. 13 Stanford in the NCAA Second Round. Denver was just three tenths from a team berth to the NCAA National Championships, placing behind only eventual NCAA runner-up UCLA and NCAA finalist Utah.
 
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Season ticket renewals and deposits for the 2026 University of Denver gymnastics season are now on sale and can be purchased online, by calling 303-871-4625 or by visiting the Ritchie
 
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