Dana Duckworth (born c. 1971), née Dana Dobransky, is an American former college gymnastics coach and former college gymnast. She was the head coach of the

Alabama Crimson Tide women's gymnastics The Alabama Crimson Tide gymnastics is a Division I gymnastics team representing the University of Alabama in NCAA competition. The Tide hosts its home matches in Coleman Coliseum on the university's Tuscaloosa, Alabama campus. One of only seve ...

team of the

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and la ...

until May 2022, having succeeded

Sarah Patterson Sarah Patterson (born ) is an English film actress. For her acting debut, Patterson starred as Rosaleen, a Little Red Riding Hood counterpart, in the Neil Jordan and Angela Carter film ''The Company of Wolves'' (1984). In 1987, she starred in a ...

in July 2014. Duckworth previously served as an assistant coach under Patterson for fifteen years, after having competed for Patterson's Crimson Tide gymnastics team for four years as an undergraduate.Andrew Gribble,
Dana Duckworth won't be alone as she takes over for legendary Alabama gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson
" AL.com (July 16, 2014). Retrieved September 19, 2014.

Early years

Duckworth was born to RichardRichard John Dobransky,
Richard John Dobransky of Sterling Heights, Michigan , 1930 - 2021 , Obituary
" simplefunerals.net (2021). Retrieved June 1, 2022. and Judy Dobransky. Judy Dobransky has long been involved with gymnastics coaching. The Dobranskys are a Jewish family. Duckworth received an athletic scholarship to attend the

in Tuscaloosa, where she was a member of coach Sarah Patterson's

team in

National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...

(NCAA) and

Southeastern Conference The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is an American college athletic conference whose member institutions are located primarily in the South Central and Southeastern United States. Its fourteen members include the flagship public universities of ...

(SEC) competition from 1989 to 1993.
2014 Alabama Gymnastics Media Guide
', Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, pp. 13, 21, 24, 25, 37, 45, 53, 88, 94, 100, 102–104, 112, 115–121, 123–127 (2014). Retrieved September 23, 2014. Despite suffering a stress fracture in her left leg as a sophomore, she recovered in time to perform as a key member of the Crimson Tide squad that won an NCAA national team championship in 1991. During her four-year college sports career, she earned five All-American accolades, and won the individual SEC conference and NCAA national titles in the balance beam in 1992 and 1993—including a perfect score of 10.0 in the NCAA individual event in 1993. Following her second NCAA title, she was recognized as the NCAA Woman of the Year for the State of Alabama in 1993.RollTide.com, Gymnastics, Coaches
Dana Duckworth
Retrieved September 19, 2014. As an undergraduate, Duckworth earned Scholastic All-American honors three times, and CoSIDA Academic All-American accolades twice.
" RollTide.com (July 15, 2014). Retrieved September 19, 2014. She also received an NCAA postgraduate scholarship and a similar award from the SEC, and used the scholarships to attend graduate business school at the University of Alabama and earn her master's degree in business administration (MBA) in 1998.

Coaching career

Duckworth became a full-time assistant coach under the Crimson Tide's long-time head coach

in 2008, after having served as a volunteer assistant during the previous nine seasons. During her time as Crimson Tide assistant, the program won NCAA national team championships in 2002, 2011 and 2012, as well as SEC conference championships in 2003, 2009 and 2011.Marq Burnett,
Duckworth set to take over Tide gymnastics
" ''The Anniston Star'' (July 19, 2014). Retrieved September 19, 2014. Champion gymnast and assistant Dana Duckworth named coach at Alabama
" NCAA.com (July 16, 2014). Retrieved September 19, 2014. Following the 2013–14 season, Patterson retired after 36 years as the Tide's head coach, and University of Alabama athletic director

Bill Battle William Raines Battle III (born December 8, 1941) is an American former college athletics administrator and football coach. He was the athletic director of the University of Alabama from 2013 to 2017. He was appointed by University President J ...

named Duckworth as Patterson's successor on July 15, 2014. The university's board of trustees approved her five-year contract with an annual base salary of $170,000. Duckworth inherited a highly successful Crimson Tide gymnastics program that has won six national championships in the previous 26 seasons. Her team's first-year schedule as coach included four of the six finalists from the 2014 NCAA national championship tournament, including NCAA co-champions Florida and Oklahoma. The 2014–15 gymnastics season was Duckworth's 20th with the Crimson Tide as a student-athlete, assistant or head coach. On May 19, 2022, Duckworth stepped down from her position as coach of Alabama.

Personal

Duckworth is married to Joe Duckworth, Jr., a partner in a Tuscaloosa area commercial real estate firm.Patrick Rupinski,
Duckworths and old family business
" ''The Tuscaloosa News'' (December 5, 2010). Retrieved September 19, 2014. The Duckworths have two children, a son and a daughter.

References

External links

RollTide.com
– Official webpage of Alabama Crimson Tide gymnastics {{DEFAULTSORT:Duckworth, Dana 1971 births Living people Alabama Crimson Tide women's gymnastics coaches Alabama Crimson Tide women's gymnasts American female artistic gymnasts Jewish American sportspeople Jewish gymnasts Sportspeople from Sterling Heights, Michigan NCAA gymnasts who have scored a perfect 10

Early years

Coaching career

Personal

See also

References

External links