White begins her third season as the Gannon Acrobatics and Tumbling head coach in 2017.
In only her second campaign at the helm last year, White guided the Lady Knights to their second national quarterfinal appearance during the program’s three-year history. The squad qualified with four regular-season victories, including a 268.67-253.945 decision late in the season against then-No. 8 King (Tenn.) that garnered the elite eight bid. Individually, Lisa Wagaman was named National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) Freshman of the Year, becoming the first Gannon acrobatics and tumbling student-athlete to receive a major national award in program history.
White possesses a loaded resume that includes 21 years of experience in athletics and coaching for a Gannon program that enters its fourth year on the varsity level. A five-time All-Area Coach of the Year, she was named Girls Gymnastics Coach of the Year by the Washington Post in 2010. White coached and developed Level 8, 9 and 10 gymnasts to regional and national competitions during her coaching career. Several earned scholarships at the NCAA Division I level.
“We are extremely excited to add Chevonne to our staff at Gannon University,” said Gannon Interim Director of Athletics Dan Teliski upon White's hiring. “She separated herself during the search process with her background, experience and enthusiasm. In addition to bringing a great gymnastics background with her, Chevonne has shown the ability to coach and develop some of the best gymnasts.”
White spent eight seasons as the head coach at Battlefield (Va.) High School from 2004-12. In the process, she developed the Bobcats into one of the area’s top gymnastics teams. Her tenure at Battlefield included 10 championship and runner-up titles at the district and regional championships. White developed six Washington Post All-Met student-athletes in the Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. She also has the unique perspective of being a former NCATA certified official.
“I am honored to be part of a rapidly expanding sport that is moving toward NCAA championship status and offers young women an additional opportunity to compete at the collegiate level,” said White upon her hiring. “I believe my extensive gymnastics background and NCATA officiating experience will contribute to the growth of this young program. I feel my ability to unite teams while working passionately and safely towards a common goal will help the program continue to qualify for national tournament appearances.”
A former elite gymnast, White is a USA Gymnastics Safety Certified Official and USA Gymnastics Professional Member. She spearheaded fundraising projects, adhered to department and district rules and regulations, monitored student-athlete academic progress and recruited prospective student-athletes during her stay at Battlefield High School. Her gymnastics coaching career includes stops at Rose’s Gymnastics in Greenville, N.C., Fairfax Gymnastics Academy in Fairfax, Va., and GMS Gymnastics Institute in Manassas, Va.
White graduated from East Carolina University in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science. She received a master’s degree in sports management from West Virginia University in 2015.
