Gymnastics
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- rroberts@ia.ua.edu
- Phone:
- 205-348-0461
Ryan Roberts continues to make a profound impact on the Alabama gymnastics program since joining the staff as an assistant coach in August of 2018, earning WCGA Region 1 Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2020 and 2021.
“Ryan is a sharp, highly respected coach with international and national elite experience who has high expectations for himself, our student-athletes and our program,” UA head coach Dana Duckworth said. “His gymnast-first philosophy encompasses not only performance, but the mental and physical well-being and long-term development of the total person as well. This belief complements the very foundation of our program.”
In 2021, Roberts’ third season with the Crimson Tide, Alabama won its 10th Southeastern Conference title and posted its 33rd top-six NCAA finish, taking fifth at the national championships. Luisa Blanco was named the SEC Gymnast of the Year and was a finalist for the Honda Award. Blanco, and Lexi Graber each won an individual national title, Blanco on the balance beam and Graber on the floor exercise. Blanco, Graber, Makarri Doggette and Shallon Olsen also earned All-America honors.
Roberts also earned a Master of Business Administration from Alabama in 2021.
In his first season with the Crimson Tide, Roberts helped propel Alabama to a league-best six All-SEC honors as well as its 37th-consectuive top-12 national finish, making UA one of two schools to never finish outside the NCAA top-12. The 2020 season also saw the Tide post its 37th top-10 finish, finishing eighth nationally, while Doggette became the 75th UA gymnast to earn All-America honors.
In addition to his work with the Crimson Tide, Roberts has been a member of the USA Gymnastics National Staff since 2018. He has coached the uneven bars for the National Elite Development Team Camps and has worked numerous developmental camps around the country.
Roberts came to Alabama following five years with the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy (WOGA) in Frisco, Texas. At WOGA, he coached members of the United States, Russian and Ecuadorian national teams. He also coached a trio of USA international Elite gymnasts, three Junior Olympic national champions and numerous gymnasts who earned college scholarships. While at WOGA, he also served as the personal coach to three USA National Team members, one of which earned a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships, as well as a Russian National Team member who won a silver medal at the World Championships and gold at the European Championships.
“Ryan is not only an excellent coach, but he is a person of tremendous character whose holistic development of student-athletes will be a great asset to The University of Alabama and our gymnastics program,” Duckworth added.
A former U.S. Junior Olympic National All-Around Champion, a U.S. National Championships all-around bronze medalist and a three-year member of the U.S. Junior National Team, Roberts helped lead the United States to a win in the 1996 USA vs. Canada meet.
“I identify with Dana’s philosophy and vision for the team along with her passion to see her student-athletes be the best on the competition floor as well as be the best version of themselves outside the gym,” Roberts said.
A much sought after coach at gymnastics clinics and camps across the nation, Roberts spent six years coaching in Fredrikstad, Norway prior to joining the WOGA staff.
During his time in Norway, Roberts served as the Norwegian National Team head coach for numerous international competitions including European Championships, World Cups, Northern European Championships and Nordic Championships. In fall 2013, he was head coach of the Norwegian Senior and Junior National Team camps, and of developmental camps for Norway’s future national team and international competitors.
Roberts’ coaching career spans 20-plus years, including a number of years at West Coast Elite Gymnastics (Arcadia, Calif.).
A former communications officer and platoon commander in the U.S. Marine Corps, Roberts was deployed to Iraq in 2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“In addition to his technical knowledge of the sport and professionalism, his diverse background, education, military and professional experience will make a huge difference for our gymnasts and staff,” Duckworth said.
Roberts competed for two years at the University of New Mexico before finishing his career as a two-time NCAA qualifier at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2003. He also earned a master’s degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2010.
Roberts and his wife Hanne have three children, Leo Olav, Aurora Amber and Pax Luca Ryan.
