June 24, 2011

BERKELEY -

California head women's gymnastics coach Danna Durante announced today the hiring of Justin Howell as a Golden Bear Assistant Coach.

Howell has served as a head coach and team director at Airborne Gymnastics in Santa Clara since 1997. In his coaching career, he has coached over 40 athletes to NCAA scholarships at 19 different Universities while leading Airborne gymnasts to 30 State Championship titles. He coached two J.O. National AA Champions, four J.O. National Team members and two U.S. National Team Members. He was named the 2004 Northern California Coach of the Year and 2008 Region One Coach of the Year and was a Visa Championships coach in both 2008 and 2010. He also founded the Rhythm Attic Dance Studio, a Zumba fitness studio in Santa Clara.

"I'm extremely excited to have Justin Howell join the Cal coaching staff," Durante said. "He has a tremendous technical background, has trained many successful athletes at both the Junior Olympic level and the Elite level and is incredibly well respected not only in California, but across the country. We are blessed that Justin is joining us and are excited to leverage his expertise and start moving Cal Gymnastics to the next level!"

Howell received an athletic scholarship at San Jose State University, graduating in 1999 with a B.S. in Kinesiology.

"I am so excited to be a part of the rich traditions of excellence in academics and athletics here at Berkeley," Howell said. "I look forward to working with Coach Durante, the team, and the entire athletic staff as we work together to make Cal Women's Gymnastics a nationally competitive program."