University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI
Gymnastics' Marie Denick Elevated To Associate Head Coach
August 15, 2024 | Women's Gymnastics
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Longtime assistant coach Marie Denick, who has been a fixture of the North Carolina gymnastics program since 2017, has been elevated to associate head coach ahead of the 2024-25 season, as announced by head coach Danna Durante on Thursday morning.Â
"Simply put, Carolina Gymnastics would not be the same without Marie," said Durante. "She has continued to elevate the standard of our program over the past seven years while helping to build a strong and empowering culture. Marie works tirelessly to ensure our student-athletes have the support they need both in and out of the gym. Additionally, she has been outstanding on the recruiting trail as her passion for Carolina Gymnastics is contagious. It is a privilege to work alongside her, and I look forward to her continued impact on our program and community."
Entering her eighth year on the Carolina gymnastics staff, Denick's impact has been evident.
In 2024, Denick successfully helped lead the Tar Heels into their first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. UNC's season-high 196.65 – the eighth highest team score in program history – against Pitt marked the first ACC win in program history.Â
She served as the primary bars coach where she led Lali Dekanoidze and Isabelle Schaefer to a 1-2 finish on the uneven bars at the first ACC Championship in 40 years. Both gymnasts ranked in the top-6 on bars in the Southeast Region and earned individual berths to the NCAA Regional Championships.
Additionally, UNC's inaugural ACC season saw eight top-10 performances in program history, four top-3 regular season ACC rankings, four All-ACC Championship Team selections and two All-ACC First Team honorees – with Denick playing an instrumental part in that success.
"I'm extremely honored and excited to continue to partner with Danna, Matt [DeGrandpre] and Sami [Durante] as we work to bring Carolina Gymnastics to new heights," said Denick. "It's been incredible to watch our student-athletes grow, face challenges and succeed in all facets of life. I feel so fortunate to continue help them along their journeys."
Prior to joining the ACC, Denick had a successful tenure coaching in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League. She was named the 2022 EAGL Assistant Coach of the Year during her first season working alongside Durante. UNC was crowned the EAGL regular season champions after going a perfect 7-0 against conference opponents that year. The team also recorded its highest national qualifying score since 2004, finishing the 2022 season with its best final NCAA ranking since 2012.Â
The Tar Heels defended their EAGL regular season crown in 2023, again going undefeated at 6-0 before finishing third at the league championships for their highest finish since 2011. Carolina also earned its second-straight NCAA Regional team berth.
Dekanoidze was named WCGA Regular Season First Team All-America on bars, Denick's third All-America selection at Carolina. Dekanoidze, who first broke the school record in the home opener at 9.975, finished the 2023 campaign ranked eighth nationally based on her NQS of 9.955.
Together, Denick and Durante led their gymnasts to a combined 21 All-EAGL regular season and 27 All-EAGL Tournament honors in two years before officially joining the ACC.
During her first year in Chapel Hill in 2018 with former head coach Derek Galvin, Carolina finished sixth in the nation on floor exercise, largely due to Denick. That season also saw Khazia Hislop earn All-America recognition; Hislop went on to earn two additional All-America honors under Denick's guidance.Â
Also coaching UNC's vault athletes, Denick coached back-to-back EAGL champions on the apparatus with Hislop winning the event in 2019 and Madison Nettles in 2018. Hislop won EAGL titles in both 2018 and 2019 on floor as well.
Denick served as the interim head coach for the Carolina gymnastics program in 2020-21.
Stay up to date with Carolina Gymnastics by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
"Simply put, Carolina Gymnastics would not be the same without Marie," said Durante. "She has continued to elevate the standard of our program over the past seven years while helping to build a strong and empowering culture. Marie works tirelessly to ensure our student-athletes have the support they need both in and out of the gym. Additionally, she has been outstanding on the recruiting trail as her passion for Carolina Gymnastics is contagious. It is a privilege to work alongside her, and I look forward to her continued impact on our program and community."
Entering her eighth year on the Carolina gymnastics staff, Denick's impact has been evident.
In 2024, Denick successfully helped lead the Tar Heels into their first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. UNC's season-high 196.65 – the eighth highest team score in program history – against Pitt marked the first ACC win in program history.Â
She served as the primary bars coach where she led Lali Dekanoidze and Isabelle Schaefer to a 1-2 finish on the uneven bars at the first ACC Championship in 40 years. Both gymnasts ranked in the top-6 on bars in the Southeast Region and earned individual berths to the NCAA Regional Championships.
Additionally, UNC's inaugural ACC season saw eight top-10 performances in program history, four top-3 regular season ACC rankings, four All-ACC Championship Team selections and two All-ACC First Team honorees – with Denick playing an instrumental part in that success.
"I'm extremely honored and excited to continue to partner with Danna, Matt [DeGrandpre] and Sami [Durante] as we work to bring Carolina Gymnastics to new heights," said Denick. "It's been incredible to watch our student-athletes grow, face challenges and succeed in all facets of life. I feel so fortunate to continue help them along their journeys."
Prior to joining the ACC, Denick had a successful tenure coaching in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League. She was named the 2022 EAGL Assistant Coach of the Year during her first season working alongside Durante. UNC was crowned the EAGL regular season champions after going a perfect 7-0 against conference opponents that year. The team also recorded its highest national qualifying score since 2004, finishing the 2022 season with its best final NCAA ranking since 2012.Â
The Tar Heels defended their EAGL regular season crown in 2023, again going undefeated at 6-0 before finishing third at the league championships for their highest finish since 2011. Carolina also earned its second-straight NCAA Regional team berth.
Dekanoidze was named WCGA Regular Season First Team All-America on bars, Denick's third All-America selection at Carolina. Dekanoidze, who first broke the school record in the home opener at 9.975, finished the 2023 campaign ranked eighth nationally based on her NQS of 9.955.
Together, Denick and Durante led their gymnasts to a combined 21 All-EAGL regular season and 27 All-EAGL Tournament honors in two years before officially joining the ACC.
During her first year in Chapel Hill in 2018 with former head coach Derek Galvin, Carolina finished sixth in the nation on floor exercise, largely due to Denick. That season also saw Khazia Hislop earn All-America recognition; Hislop went on to earn two additional All-America honors under Denick's guidance.Â
Also coaching UNC's vault athletes, Denick coached back-to-back EAGL champions on the apparatus with Hislop winning the event in 2019 and Madison Nettles in 2018. Hislop won EAGL titles in both 2018 and 2019 on floor as well.
Denick served as the interim head coach for the Carolina gymnastics program in 2020-21.
Stay up to date with Carolina Gymnastics by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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