Get to Know the Alabama Gymnastics Coaching Staff – Ashley Johnston
8/26/2024 3:17:00 PM | Gymnastics
Prior to the start of the 2024-25 athletics season, we caught up with third-year Crimson Tide head coach Ashley Johnston in conjunction with our new Get to Know series featuring the new gymnastics coaching staff
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama gymnastics head coach Ashley Johnston has never been a stranger to the sport of gymnastics. From growing up around the sport, to competing at the highest level, even to now – entering her third year as head coach of her alma mater, the element of "Fierce Joy" has now become front and center for the new wave of Alabama gymnasts under Johnston's leadership.
Prior to the start of the 2024-25 athletics season, we caught up with Johnston for a Q&A, kickstarting our series, Get to Know the Alabama Gymnastics Coaching Staff.
Get to Know: Head Coach Ashley Johnston
What drew you to the sport of Gymnastics?
The gym was my playground, and I basically grew up following my mom and my sister around. My mom was a gymnast (competed at Missouri), my sister was a gymnast (competed at Alabama), and I just loved to play in the gym! There are plenty of stories about how I loved taking risks and committed to just about any skill as a two-year-old. I just fell in love with the sport from an early age and I never wanted to try anything else.
What was the best piece of advice you received from one of your coaches?
A quote that's always stuck in my head is, "gymnastics was what I did, it wasn't who I was". My parents were the grounding force that allowed me to see beyond my sport, even when it consumed much of my life. My mom understood it because she lived it, personally, and we had an unspoken understanding of the demands, while my dad has a way of offering sound wisdom during trying moments. They continue to be a grounding force for me, and I am so very thankful for that!
The other quote that has stuck with me since the moment of accepting this role (of head coach at UA) was from my sister when she said, "your comfort is always in competition with your calling". This has been really impactful as we are constantly working to equip our team with the skill set to find comfort in the uncomfortable and challenging moments, and that starts with me and how I live that out consistently.
What do you hope to instill to the current Alabama gymnasts?
Fierce Joy! An ability to be fiery and passionate about going after the things you want in life, while also bringing a playful approach that is the emergency brake for if it doesn't play out. I believe joy is the answer. It's what I didn't quite figure out as a competitive gymnast. It's feeling the highs and the lows and still choosing it over and over because the purpose and journey supersedes the result. I want my athletes to all graduate from Alabama, feeling joy while giving it their absolute all and being okay regardless of the outcome.
What are you most excited about for the 2025 season?
I'm excited about the conversations and depth of connections on this team. We've laid a lot of groundwork and tiptoed into conversations about greatness, and we feel like we can really commit to going for that now. With six new freshmen, there will be a lot of new opportunities, new faces and potential for breakthroughs. Don't miss out, go get your season tickets to support these amazing ladies!
You're stranded on a deserted island and are only allowed one other coaching staff member to help you survive – who are you picking and why?
I absolutely cannot pick just one staff member because I love them all so dearly! So here is what each of them brings to my deserted island situation:
- Amelia, aka Meals - she will bring all the vibes, problem-solving abilities and "dance dance" while we're on this deserted island. She'll probably teach the fish a flash dance and we'll all have a grand ole time.
- Justin - why would I need an internet connection when I have a Justin? He can start a fire for me, probably kill some bugs for me to eat and filter water through some handy DIY method that I've never heard of. He is a walking Google, Alexa and AI combined. He'd also provide some inspiring speech to motivate us all to embark on this amazing journey of a lifetime.
- Ross - he's super handy and could build us a boat to adventure around on. Also, he's already proven he can save me from getting thrown off a tube in the lake [during our team retreat] so I feel like he's going to save me from the wild boar and other creatures on this island.
