Three-time NCAA gold medalist Trinity Thomas came out of her retirement three years after initially quitting. After a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Winter Cup, many fans expected to see Thomas strive for a place on Team USA for the Paris Olympics. However, it was not meant to be, and a disappointing turn of events cut short the Gators star’s run at the Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships.

Thomas returned to gymnastics a year after initially retiring, and many hoped to see her represent the USA on the world stage one last time. While that did not materialize, Thomas’ status as one of the country’s top gymnasts is beyond any doubt. But who was the driving force behind her rise to elite status?

Meet Trinity Thomas’ head coach, Jenny Rowland

An “elite gymnast” in every sense, Thomas boasts a remarkable 28 perfect 10s, a feat that current gymnasts across the country aspire to achieve. Much of Thomas’ success can be attributed to Jenny Rowland, the head coach of the Gators, who took charge of the program in 2015. A former member of the US national team and a collegiate All-American gymnast herself, Rowland possesses the expertise to help her athletes excel at the elite level.

Under her watchful eye, members of Team USA who competed in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics went on to perform impressively at the Games. While Rowland has been instrumental in helping the Gators become one of the most formidable forces in collegiate gymnastics, Thomas holds a special place in her heart.

When Thomas’ injury caused her to abruptly end her floor routine at the 2023 NCAA Championships, Rowland was left heartbroken. “For all she’s done for this team, they truly are committed to each other and wanted to show her how much she means to them and in turn, that was just a celebration on her behalf,” said Rowland after the Gators secured second place at last year’s NCAA regional finals. Naturally, Rowland’s deep involvement in her students’ hopes and ambitions makes her a revered coach, and her success is a testament to her dedication.

The glorious coaching career of Rowland

As the Gators’ coach, Rowland boasts an impressive record of 137 wins against only 20 losses, underscoring her exceptional coaching abilities. However, her path to fame began long before. Rowland’s career as an elite gymnastics coach began in 2001 when she joined the Oklahoma Sooners program. In 2004, she led the team to the Big XIII title and produced three Big XIII Gymnasts of the Year. She also helped OSU qualify for the NCAA Championships three times (2004, 2005, and 2006). In October 2010, Rowland joined Auburn as their assistant coach and went on to help them reach the NCAA Super Six for the first time in 22 years. During her tenure with the Tigers, she was awarded her first National Assistant Coach of the Year title in 2015.

Rowland was tasked with primarily overseeing the Tigers’ balance beam routines. Under her expert guidance, the Auburn women achieved the highest beam scores at the 2015 SEC Championship and the NCAA Semifinal II. Since Rowland joined the Gators in 2015, Florida has claimed the SEC Championships title seven times and has been crowned the SEC regular season winners multiple times. Under Rowland’s leadership, the Gators have earned 176 All-American honors along with 11 NCAA individual event titles. Rowland is the only current SEC coach with over 200 wins to her name.

Were you aware of Jenny Rowland’s remarkable feats? Tell us what you think of Trinity Thomas and the Florida Gators’ remarkable coach in the comments.