Gannon University has promoted Brandy Duren to head coach of the acrobatics & tumbling program.
Duren, who spent one season as an assistant with Gannon, takes over for Jacquie Eshleman, who resigned after five seasons to accept a position as the inaugural head coach with Iona University's new program.
Together, Eshleman and Duren led Gannon to a National Runner-up finish in the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association Championships in Eugene, Oregon in April 2022.
Duren has head coaching experience in the sport. She was the head coach for three years at Arizona Christian University, where she started the program from scratch.
Brandy Duren, left, works with Gannon's athletes
during NCATA Nationals in 2022.
"We are excited to announce the promotion of Brandy Duren to the position of Head Coach of our highly successful acrobatics and tumbling team," said Gannon Director of Athletics Lisa Goddard McGuirk.  "Brandy's prior experience as a collegiate head coach, combined with her immediate positive impact on our team since she arrived at Gannon, ensures that our positive momentum toward a national championship continues. I am excited for this season and our student-athletes, as our future is bright under Brandy's experienced leadership."
Duren, who was initially hired in August 2021, also helped the Golden Knights claim individual event titles in synchronized pyramid, synchronized toss, and open toss at Nationals in 2022. The transition to a new coach should be smoother because Duren knows the athletes well after her first season with the team.
"Upon meeting the Gannon University acrobatics and tumbling team in August of last year, they completely stole my heart with their open arms and welcoming nature, which motivated me to support, encourage, and empower them to the very best of my ability," Duren said. "With the fire they had inside of them, they took last season by storm, and I enjoyed every second of being their assistant coach along the way. I am honored that Gannon University and Lisa Goddard McGuirk asked me to tend to that fire and maintain it this season as their head coach."
Duren started the Arizona Christian University program and guided the Firestorm into their first season in 2019. She led the program to immediate success and produced eight NCATA Academic Honor Roll members at the conclusion of their first season.
In addition to having head coaching experience, Duren starred as an athlete in acrobatics & tumbling. She competed for four years (2012-15) as a top for the University of Oregon. During that time, Oregon won three National Team Championships.
Duren graduated from the University of Oregon in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in Sociology.
Gannon returns a strong core of athletes from the 2022 team. The season is scheduled to open in February.
