The Clemson gymnastics program is breaking new ground with the launch of its inaugural women’s team. Head Coach Amy Smith is leading the team into their first competitive season in January 2024, and season ticket requests are now open through the athletic ticket office, with prices starting at just $15.
As the fourth ACC school to sponsor a gymnastics team, Clemson will be competing with Pitt, NC State, and North Carolina for the ACC Championship. Smith’s extensive experience in coaching collegiate gymnastics has prepared her for the challenge of leading a new team.
Smith’s career in gymnastics began as a student-athlete at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she graduated as an All-American and National Champion. Afterward, she began coaching at different universities, including Utah State, North Carolina, UCLA, Missouri, Florida, and Kentucky. In 2022, she was named the first-ever head coach of Clemson women’s gymnastics, and she has been hard at work preparing for the team’s debut season.
Smith’s most recent coaching stint was with Utah State, where she led the team for five seasons. During this time, the Aggies finished in the top 25 in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1998-99. The team set a program record for the highest team score at an NCAA regional meet and brought a conference title back to Logan, Utah, for the first time since 2005. In 2022, the team finished 23rd nationally, the highest among non-Power Five programs, and ranked 14th nationally on balance beam and 21st in the floor exercise.
Prior to her time at Utah State, Smith was an assistant coach at North Carolina, where she earned the 2017 East Atlantic Gymnastics League Assistant Coach of the Year honors. During her time at UCLA as an assistant coach, the Bruins had a third consecutive top-three finish at the 2012 NCAA Championships. She also helped guide Missouri to its first-ever NCAA Championship appearance in 2010 when she was an assistant coach at the university.
In addition to her coaching experience, Smith is a highly accomplished former gymnast. She earned first-team All-American honors on both vault and floor in 1997 and captured a Pac-10 Conference title on floor and an NCAA West Regional title on vault on the way to the 1997 Team National Championship. She was a team captain in both 1996 and 1997.
As the first-ever head coach of the Clemson women’s gymnastics team, Smith is eager to establish a culture of excellence and hard work. She believes that Clemson’s commitment to providing the resources and support needed for success will help the team achieve its goals. With her vast experience in coaching and competing, Smith is confident in her ability to build a strong and competitive program.
The opportunity to be a part of Clemson’s inaugural women’s gymnastics team is an exciting prospect for many young gymnasts. The team will be competing in Littlejohn Coliseum, and season tickets are available now through the athletic ticket office. With prices starting at just $15, fans can cheer on the Tigers as they begin their journey towards becoming a competitive force in the world of college gymnastics.
Amy Smith’s Previous Coaching Experience:
2017-22: Utah State Head Coach
2014-17: North Carolina Assistant Head Coach
2012-13: North Carolina Assistant Coach
2011-12: UCLA Assistant Coach
2007-11: Missouri Assistant Coach
2003-06: Florida Volunteer Assistant Coach/Choreographer
2003-05: Kentucky Choreographer
1997-98: UCLA Undergraduate Assistant Coach
As a Gymnast (UCLA)
Floor First-Team All-American (1995, 1997)
Vault First-Team All-American (1997)
Pac-10 floor exercise champ (1997)
West Region vault champ (1997)
West Region floor champ (1996)
UCLA Co-captain (1996, 1997)
Helped UCLA capture the national championship in 1997 and a runner-up finish in 1996.
As a Gymnast (Oklahoma)
NIT vault champion (1994)
NIT floor champion (1994)
Big Eight vault champion (1994)
