Courtesy Washington Athletics
SEATTLE – Former UW gymnastics associate head coach David McCreary has been hired as an assistant coach at the University of Arizona. UW assistant coach Elise Ray has been named the new associate head coach to take McCreary’s place.
“I would like to thank David for the past nine years of dedicated hard work,” UW gymnastics head coach Joanne Bowers said. “He is a true professional that is passionate about gymnastics. He has an opportunity that is a very good move for him and his wife at this time in his life and I wish them the very best. He will be missed greatly as both a coach and as a friend.”
The move ends McCreary’s nine-year tenure with the Huskies. He was named West Region co-Assistant Coach of the Year in 2011 among his other highlights at Washington.
An assistant coach for the past four seasons, Elise Ray will fill the role of associate head coach. Ray has excelled as the head beam coach and played a large role in choreography with the GymDawgs, and will add to those responsibilities in an increased role.
“Elise has proven her ability as a great young assistant coach in the past few years, doing the choreography and being the lead coach on beam,” Bowers said. “I would like to expand her role and give her more responsibility moving forward and she is motivated to be more involved with all areas. These changes provide me an opportunity to make some exciting changes for our program.”
Ray was a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team that won a bronze medal and was the only U.S. gymnast to make an Olympic event final. She was a very decorated collegiate gymnast, with three national titles and 14 all-American honors.
With Ray’s appointment to the associate head coach position, the GymDawgs have already started the search to fill the assistant coaching vacancy. Volunteer assistant coach Stephanie Gentry will remain on the staff in her current position.