Danny Warbutton, a graduate of Georgia Southern University and world-renowned gymnast and gymnastics coach, has died. Warbutton had been battling bladder cancer. Warbutton began gymnastics at the age of 11 with the Monessen Sokols, where he became a four-time National Sokol Champion. At Belle Vernon High School, he was a member of three PIAA Championship teams, was a two-time WPIAL Champion and a PIAA All-Around Champion and Eastern United States High School Champion.

At Georgia Southern, he was a four-time Georgia state champion, four-time Southern Intercollegiate Gymnastics champion and a three-time All-American. He was a 10th-place finisher in the 1972 Olympic Trials. Warbutton was chosen to coach the United States team in 1977, as the team toured with Nadia Comaneci and the Romanian gymnasts. As an International coach, he coached U.S. teams in South Africa, East Germany and England.

Warbutton has coached 11 Elite gymnasts, 45 National competitors and 10 state championship teams. More than 50 of his gymnasts have gone on to college on full scholarships.

He has served as chairman of the Pennsylvania Age Group, and chairman of Regional Elite Coach of Coaches. He also served on the Foreign Relations Committee, International and Olympic Team Selection and the National Coaching Staff, and was the first recipient of the Pennsylvania Lifetime Achievement Award in 1988.

Warbutton is survived by his wife, and their two sons, Bobby and Steven.