TOWSON, Md. – Towson University graduate and former assistant
Jay Ramirez has returned to be the new head coach of Tiger gymnastics.
Ramirez comes back to Towson after stints as an assistant coach from 2016-18 and 2003, plus was a volunteer coach in 1999. Eight of the top-10 Towson team scores all-time in meets have occurred while Ramirez was with the Black & Gold.
"I am extremely excited to be back at Towson and coaching these talented young women," said Ramirez. "As an alumnus myself, I hope to make all Towson gymnastics alumnae proud to have been a Tiger. I hope to earn the respect of all these athletes so that we can thrive this year and future seasons to come."
"We are thrilled to bring back Jay Ramirez to the Towson family," said Towson Director of Athletics
Tim Leonard. "Jay is a proud alum and accomplished coach. He will continue and strengthen the tradition of Towson gymnastics."
In his stint from 2016-18 with the Tigers,
Mary Elle Arduino,
Tyra McKellar and
Gabriella Yarussi all were NCAA qualifiers in the 2017 Gainesville Regional and the 2018 Raleigh Regional. The Tigers had four All-East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL) selections each season, including First Team selections in all four events plus the all-around over the two years. McKellar earned three First Team All-EAGL selections, twice on uneven bars and once on floor exercise, Yarussi was First Team on the all-around and balance beam in 2017, Arduino picked up First Team on the balance beam in 2017 and
Cortni Baker got First Team on the vault in 2018.
In 2003, Ramirez served as an assistant under Towson Athletics Hall of Fame coach Dick Filbert. That year, the Tigers finished in the top-four in the EAGL championship meet, plus Kristen Presutti notched a perfect-10 on a floor exercise. Three gymnasts, Presutti, Jenn Baierlein and Juliya Kovaliova, earned First Team All-EAGL recognition, with Kovaliova being the EAGL champion on uneven bars.
He is a Level 10/Elite/TOPS coach for the Hill's Gymnastics Center, helping train national, regional and state performers to titles. He coached Kytra Hunter, an All-Around NCAA Champion at the University of Florida, and Corrie Lothrop, an alternate for the 2008 U.S. National Team, plus represented Team USA Coaching in the Toyota Cup in Japan.
Ramirez also served as a coach at Chelsea Piers Gymnastics in New York, coaching levels four through 10 and instructional gymnastics. He had seven state championship team titles, 36 individual state champions and four individual regional champions.
Ramirez graduated from Towson in 2003 with a Bachelor's Degree in business administration, having a concentration in marketing.
- TowsonTigers.com –
