TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona Gymnastics head coach John Court has announced that the program will hire Julie Ballard Clark and Emma Strom as assistant coaches.
 
"I am very excited to announce the hiring of Julie and Emma as assistant coaches for our program," Court said. "They believe in Arizona Gymnastics and what it can be in the future and will help us grow and be successful in the newer landscape of college athletics."
 
Ballard Clark, a Georgia graduate, comes to Arizona with experience as a highly accomplished coach, program director, and former elite gymnast. She most recently served as an assistant coach and personal trainer at D1 Training in Louisiana where she worked with youth athletes on strength, speed, agility, and conditioning. Prior to D1 Training, she served as the Program Director and Head Coach at Pinnacle Gymnastics in Colorado where she led team operations and designed comprehensive training curricula. Her recent work also includes roles in high school gymnastics and club gymnastics where she helped elevate athlete and team success.
 
Prior to coaching, Ballard Clark was a decorated gymnast at Georgia where was a two-time NCAA All-American and led Georgia to the 1998 national championship. She was named the 1995 SEC Freshman of the Year and scored a pair of perfect 10s during her time with the Bulldogs. Ballard Clark was inducted into the Region 8 Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2021. Following her career competing at Georgia, she served as an assistant coach for the Bulldogs for 12 years and coached the program to five national championships. 
 
"I am incredibly honored to join the University of Arizona and be part of such a strong, tradition-rich program," Ballard Clark said. "This opportunity allows me to continue doing what I love - helping athletes grow into the best version of themselves - while contributing to a team culture built on excellence, grit, and pride. I am so grateful for John and the vision he has to elevate this program to new heights. This is a dream come true and it's time to get started!"
 
Strom is beginning her coaching career at Arizona following her four-year career as a GymCat. Strom will be graduating in May with a degree in nutritional sciences from Arizona. As a GymCat, Strom held career-high marks of 9.875 on vault, 9.925 on beam, and 9.950 on floor. During the 2026 season, she posted a 9.90 or higher on floor in eight meets and tied her career high of 9.950 on the event twice. She earned All-Big 12 honors on floor in 2026 following her senior campaign.
 
Additionally, Strom has experience with the Big 12 LIFT program and was the president of the Arizona Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as well as a Big 12 SAAC representative during her time as a student-athlete She is the Chair of Big 12 LIFT for the 2025-26 academic year where she has helped establish a conference wide leadership group to advance student-athlete advocacy, policy influence, and professional development. As a member of Arizona SAAC and Big 12 SAAC, Strom organized meetings with the Director of Athletics and student-athlete representatives to provide suggestions on rules, regulations, and policies that affect student-athletes in Arizona Athletics and across the conference and NCAA.
 
"I'm incredibly excited for the opportunity to give back to a program that has shaped me, and to help carry forward the standard of accountability, consistency, and excellence that defines Arizona Gymnastics," Strom said. "This program means a great deal to me, and I'm committed to being a strong, reliable leader who pushes and supports our athletes while helping elevate the team to new levels of success. I'm looking forward to building meaningful relationships, preparing our athletes to compete with confidence under pressure, and contributing to an environment that energizes our team and the Tucson community."