DENVER – The University of Denver gymnastics team has added Mary Rice as an assistant coach, Joy S. Burns Head Women's Gymnastics Coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart announced on Thursday.
 
"We're incredibly excited to have Mary Rice join the Denver Gymnastics family," Kutcher-Rinehart said. "She's experienced, accomplished and knowledgeable, and will bring her passion and enthusiasm for the sport to our program. She is a dedicated, hardworking and thoughtful coach who can teach from the basics all the way to the highest level. She'll complement (fellow new assistant coach) Megan Haught wonderfully as both of them know how to balance technical coaching with compassion, collaboration and communication, and will embrace our philosophy of character, teamwork and excellence. Together, Mary and Megan have fostered connections that will continue to move Denver Gymnastics forward."
 
Rice has spent more than a decade coaching professionally, most recently serving as a full-time team coach for Level 9 and 10 gymnasts at Brandy Johnson's Gymnastics in Clermont, Fla., since June 2020. She began her coaching career at Sun Country Gymnastics in Gainesville, Fla., in 2012, teaching athletes from beginner levels up to Level 10. In total, she has seen nearly 50 of her athletes compete at the USA Gymnastics Development Program National Championships and seven of them qualify for the prestigious Nastia Liukin Cup – including two all-around silver medalists. Fifteen of her gymnasts received Division I athletic scholarships as well.
 
Additionally, Rice is a USAG Level 10-rated judge, has served as a beam and floor choreographer, and developed conditioning programs at both Brandy Johnson's and Sun Country.
 
"I am so excited and grateful to be joining the DU family," Rice said. "To have the opportunity to be a part of such a historically successful program led by one of the most tenured head coaches in the NCAA was something I could not pass up. I am thrilled to be able to contribute my knowledge, passion and energy to Pioneers gymnastics, and I can't wait to get started."
 
Rice twice graduated from the University of Florida, first with a bachelor's degree in applied physiology and kinesiology in 2011 before receiving her master's degree in exercise physiology in 2014.
 
Rice will join Megan Haught as the newest members of the Denver gymnastics coaching staff ahead of the 2025-26 academic year.
 
The University of Denver gymnastics team finished the 2025 season ranked No. 13 nationally and reached its sixth consecutive NCAA Regional Final after tying with No. 4 Utah for first place and upsetting then-No. 13 Stanford in the NCAA Second Round. Denver was just three tenths from a team berth to the NCAA National Championships, placing behind only eventual NCAA runner-up UCLA and NCAA finalist Utah.
 
TICKETS:
Season ticket renewals and deposits for the 2026 University of Denver gymnastics season are now on sale and can be purchased online, by calling 303-871-4625 or by visiting the Ritchie
 
Denver's Home for College Sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Gymnastics on Facebook.
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Gymnastics on Twitter.
Follow @DenverPioneers and @Denver_Gymnastics on Instagram.