TWU Home > Student Life > Athletics > 9/11/07
TWU ADDS TWO GRADUATE ASSISTANTS
DENTON, Texas (September 11) – The Texas Woman’s University Athletic department added a pair of new employees with the recent hiring of two graduate assistants.
Gretchen Goerlitz (GARE-litz) has been named the TWU gymnastics graduate assistant coach while Devry McDonald has been hired as the TWU basketball graduate assistant coach.
Goerlitz comes to TWU from the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado. She competed vault, beam, and floor on the DU gymnastics team for three seasons (2004-07). While at DU, she also served as the Pioneers’ student coach, assisting her coaching staff and teammates in all aspects necessary to prepare their team for competition. In 2005 and 2007, Goerlitz received the DU Gymnastics Unsung Hero award for her athletic accomplishments, coaching contributions, and leadership on the floor.
Before her stint at DU, Goerlitz began her collegiate gymnastics career at Utah State University. As a freshman for the Aggies during the 2003 season, Goerlitz qualified for the NCAA Regionals as an individual all-arounder and received the USU Whiteside’s Award, an honor given in recognition of her academic excellence.
In addition to her coaching work at DU, Goerlitz has also coached at the Aurora School of Gymnastics in Aurora, Colorado and worked on the coaching staff at the 2007 University of Denver Gymnastics camp and the 2007 Texas Woman’s University Gymnastics camp.
TWU gymnastics head coach Frank Kudlac is excited to have Goerlitz on board with his program.
“Gretchen has a great gymnastics background and a wealth of quality experience,” stated Kudlac. “We’re fortunate to have her on our coaching staff and I expect her to have a tremendously positive impact on our program.”
Devry McDonald is a product of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She graduated from OSU in May 2007 with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Education. McDonald was a starter at point guard on the Cowgirls basketball team during the 2004-05 season and averaged 5.8 points per game and 1.9 assists per game. She led the team with a 40.0% three-point shooting percentage and was second on the squad with an average of 37.9 minutes per game.
In addition to her time at OSU, McDonald also played one season of basketball at Seward County Community College in 2003-04. At Seward, she was a 2004 All-Jayhawk Conference second-team selection and a 2004 Region 6 All-Tournament second-team honoree.
McDonald has previous coaching experience at both the Oklahoma State University women’s basketball camp and the Seward County Community College summer basketball camp.
Beth Jillson, the Pioneers head basketball coach, is looking forward to having McDonald’s assistance this season.
“Devry has all the characteristics of an excellent coach,” Jillson explained. “As a former point guard, she obviously knows the game of basketball. More importantly than that, she knows how to teach the game of basketball. She’s full of energy and enthusiasm and I really feel like she will be an asset for this program.”
Goerlitz and McDonald have relocated to Denton and have already begun their coaching duties at TWU.
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