INDIANAPOLIS – Jan Exner, the head coach of the USA rhythmic team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, has been named to the position of Rhythmic Program Director for USA Gymnastics (USAG). The hire was announced by USAG President Bob Colarossi. She assumed her new duties earlier in November.

“I’m excited about the opportunities and challenges in the rhythmic program,” said Exner. “I hope to bring the program to a higher competitive level internationally and to build up the numbers of competitive participants in the sport.”
Exner has been involved at the grass-roots and elite levels of the sport. Prior to joining USAG, she was Executive Director and Head Coach of Gymmarin Pacific, where she coached 1996 Olympian Jessica Davis. She also worked at assistant manager and artistic gymnastics coach of the Los Angeles School of Gymnastics from 1980 to 1987.
Certified as a Brevet Judge by the International Gymnastics Federation, Exner also has served as head coach for three World Championships teams (1993, 1994 and 1995) as well as the USA team at the 1995 Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina, where the American squad won a total of 10 of the 21 medals available, including two gold and four silver.
A native of the San Franscisco Bay area, Exner received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Cal State-Hayward in 1976 and a master’s degree in education from Stanford University in 1977. She also as worked for the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.