Air Force Academy

Oct. 27, 2006

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Doug Day was named head coach of the Air Force women's gymnastics team, athletic department officials announced today. As the first coach to earn national assistant coach of the year honors with both a men's and women's team, Day brings a wealth of technical, judging and coaching experience to the Academy.

"I am very excited to be a part of the Air Force Academy and its athletic department," Day said. "I know that this is a first-class institution. Everyone has the same philosophy of creating the best Air Force officers possible. To be asked to join such a remarkable department is quite overwhelming, but also very exciting. My family and I are looking forward to spending many years at the Academy."

"We're thrilled to welcome Coach Day, his wife Lynn and daughter to the Air Force Athletics family," Col. Billy Walker, Deputy Athletic Director, said. "Coach Day brings a wealth of experience coaching some of the best gymnasts in the country to our program.  Additionally, his excitement, innovation and passion for the sport will infuse our program with new energy, and enable our women's team to be very competitive nationally."

Prior to his appointment at the Academy, Day served as the team manager at TAGS Gymnastics in Eden Prairie, Minn. While at TAGS, he oversaw that design and implementation of team practices and facility issues for over 4000 gymnasts and 68 employees.

Day spent nine years as the assistant coach for the women's gymnastics program at the University of Minnesota. During his time with the Golden Gophers, the team won the two Big Ten team titles (1998, 2006) and made one appearance at the NCAA Championships (2002). In addition, five Gophers won individual conference titles, two were named Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, two earned regional championship titles, two claimed All-America honors and four individually qualified for the NCAA Championships. In addition, Minnesota accounted for 62 Academic All-Big Ten citations.

Before joining the Minnesota program, Day served as the assistant men's gymnastics coach at the University of New Mexico from 1986-97. While with the Lobos, he coached 10 individual national champions, 21 All-Americans and 36 individual conference champions, while helping New Mexico to five Western Athletic Conference team titles. He also taught physical education courses at UNM. In January 1997, Day was inducted into the University of New Mexico Gymnastics Hall of Fame for his contributions as an athlete and as a coach with the men's gymnastics team.

While at the collegiate level, Day claimed two NCAA National Assistant Coach of the Year awards, becoming the first coach to earn that distinction for a men's and women's team. Day first earned the honor while on the men's coaching staff at New Mexico in 1995.  In 2006, he received that distinction with the Minnesota women's program. In addition, Day earned two Regional Assistant Coach of the Year while with the Golden Gophers (2001, 2006).

Athletes trained by Day have competed in the Olympic Games (1988, 1992), the World Gymnastics Championships (1979, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1999) and the USA McDonald's American Cup. Day served as coach for the U.S. at the 1989 Golden Sands Invitational in Varna, Bulgaria, and at the 1994-95 Blanc Mesnil Invitational in Paris, France. He also served as an assistant coach for Slovenia at the 1999 World Gymnastics Championships in Tianjin, China.

Additionally, Day has more than 25 years of judging experience, including the 1996 Olympic Trials in Boston and nine USA Championships. 

The staff for Day's inaugural season will consist of Holly Tedeschi, who acted as the interim coach during the 2006 season, and Capt. Nelle Barriteau. Tedeschi has been with the program since 2000, while Barriteau will begin her first season.

"I'd like to thank Holly for the fantastic job she did for us as the interim head coach over the last year," Walker continued.  "She kept our program moving forward and implemented some changes that have been quite successful.  We're fortunate that we're able to keep Holly on Coach Day's staff as the top assistant.  Our women's gymnastics program's future looks bright indeed."

Day received his bachelor's degree in physical education from New Mexico in 1977 and his master's degree in adapted physical education from Springfield College in 1978.