TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona Gymnastics head coach John Court has announced that Brian Amato has been hired as the program's third assistant coach. Amato will join Julie Ballard Clark and Emma Strom as assistant coaches.  
 
"Brian is a great person and championship-level coach," Court said. "His uneven bars teams at the Power 4 level have been nationally ranked over the years, and he is a tireless recruiter. I am excited to welcome him and his family to Tucson."
 
Amato comes to Arizona following six years at Nebraska where he was the lead bars coach for the Huskers. During his time at Nebraska, Amato helped the Huskers to four-straight appearances in the second round of the NCAA tournament. In 2025, he coached the Big Ten Bars Champion and helped Nebraska finish the season ranked No. 21 on bars. Amato helped the Huskers post the 10th-best bars score in program history in the 2023 season and coached three gymnasts to All-Big Ten honors and guided the WCGA Co-Regional Gymnast of the Year.
 
Prior to Nebraska, Amato spent seven years at Oregon State. With the Beavers, Amato helped lead the program to a sixth-place finish at the 2019 NCAA Championships and he earned the 2017 NACGC/W West Region Assistant Coach of the Year honor after coaching a gymnast to Oregon State's first 10.0 score on bars since 2008. He also coached three regular season All-Americans while at Oregon State.
 
"I'd like to thank John Court and Athletic Director Desireé Reed-Francois for the opportunity to join the gymnastics staff and athletic department at the University of Arizona," Amato said. "I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a great program and staff. I look forward to working with a talented and passionate group of student-athletes and am certain that together, we can achieve a new standard of excellence in and out of the gym. I can't wait to get to work. Bear Down!"
 
Amato is a graduate of Portland State University and received his master's from Saint Leo University. He has two children, Alex and Brooke.