Release via Washington Athletics

SEATTLE – Following 10 seasons at the helm of the University of Washington Gymnastics program, Joanne Bowers has decided to step down as head coach and plans to relocate to Harrisonburg, VA, where her husband John is an assistant football coach at James Madison University.

“The deep relationships and friendships I have been blessed with here at Washington made this decision agonizing for me, but at the end of the day, the strain and challenges of living across the country from my husband as we both pursued our coaching dreams made it clear that my greatest desire was for us to live in the same place,” Bowers said. “I would like to thank the administration at Washington for giving me the opportunity to be a head coach and supporting me along the way, especially Stephanie Rempe, our sport administrator. I would also like to thank my terrific staff, including associate head coach Elise Ray, who I believe is well prepared to be a fantastic head coach.”

Bowers brought the Washington gymnastics program back into the national spotlight, taking the team to the NCAA West Regionals in each of her ten seasons after the Huskies missed out in 2006 for the first time in school history. Additionally, she sent individuals to NCAA Nationals in seven seasons ('07, '08, '10, '11, '12, '13, ‘16), the first Huskies to compete at nationals since 2004.

“Through 10 seasons as head coach, Joanne Bowers has brought success to all areas of the Husky Gymnastics program,” Jennifer Cohen, Interim Director of Athletics said. “Though I am sad to see her go, I am thrilled that her family will be reunited, and fully support her decision. We are very grateful for Joanne’s many years of service to the student-athletes here at Washington.”

Bowers and her husband, John, have two sons, David (33) and Ross (19), a redshirt freshman quarterback at California.

“My time at Washington has been unforgettable,” Bowers said. “But, I am excited to return to a more normal home life and have the opportunity to live in the same place as my husband and watch my son play football.”

Bowers was named the fifth Washington women's gymnastics head coach on June 7, 2006. She arrived in Seattle from Ann Arbor, where she had spent the previous five seasons as a highly-successful assistant coach at the University of Michigan. Bowers helped lead the Wolverines to a seventh-place finish at the 2006 NCAA Championships in her final campaign with the team. During Bowers' five seasons with the Wolverines, Michigan went to the NCAA Championships every year and won four Big Ten Championships.

Bowers graduated from James Madison University with a physical education degree in 1982. She was a four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain of the women's gymnastics team while at JMU. Bowers went on to obtain her master's degree in education with a minor in administration and supervision from Austin Peay State University in 1985.