ATHENS — Georgia will be looking for its third gymnastics coach since the legendary Suzanne Yoculan retired. Danna Durante was fired on Monday after five seasons leading one of UGA’s most visible sports.
A source confirmed the news on Monday night, and Durante was not at the athletics department’s athlete dinner on Monday night. Georgia officially announced the news on Tuesday morning.
“We will move forward with a national search as quickly as possible to fill the head coaching position for our gymnastics team,” athletics director Greg McGarity said in a statement.
The Red and Black first reported Durante’s firing.
The Gym Dogs finished 12th at the NCAA championships two weeks ago, after going 11-9 in the regular season with a No. 10 national ranking. Afterwards Durante called it “a rough season.” Since then three gymnasts were dismissed from the team by Durante, a move that was not related to behavior, the school told the Red and Black.
Yoculan retired in 2009 after winning five straight national championships. She was replaced by top assistant Jay Clark, who was let go after three seasons. McGarity hired Durante, who had been at California. Durante’s top finish at Georgia was fifth nationally.
This is the second coach that McGarity, who began his tenure Aug. 2010, has hired and then fired. His first hire was in volleyball, and he made a coaching change in that sport last year. The baseball team is also struggling this year in its fourth season under Scott Stricklin, who was hired four years ago.