Elise Ray-Statz - Gymnastics Coach - University of Washington Athletics

Elise Ray-Statz

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
meray@uw.edu
Phone:
(206) 221-2950

In four years as the head coach at Washington, Elise Ray-Statz has already brought the GymDawgs to back-to-back NCAA Nationals for the second time in school history. The GymDawgs have had an unprecedented run of success, making Nationals in two of the three years with postseason competition and earning eight All-American honors in Ray-Statz's tenure.

2020 saw the GymDawgs set a number of school records in a shortened season as the NCAA canceled all competition before the Pac-12 Championship or postseason competition. Even in the shortened season, Washington shined: the GymDawgs had four different gymnasts earn five combined All-American honors, the most since 1998. Washington also earned six All-Pac-12 honors, tied for its most ever. The five different GymDawgs earning All-Pac-12 were the program's most since 2008. Three times Washington scored over 197.

The GymDawgs also went 5-1-1 in Pac-12 competition, its best record ever in conference. Washington would finish second in the regular season, culminating with a 197.600 score against Utah that was the program's second-highest score ever. Washington had its first two perfect tens on beam ever in 2020 as well, courtesy of All-American Evanni Roberson.

In 2019, Ray-Statz coached the GymDawgs to another top-20 finish and a trip to NCAA Regionals. Washington finished with 29 individual event championships on the year and over 30 new individual career highs. Evanni Roberson earned All-Pac-12 honors, making it nine consecutive years that the GymDawgs have earned at least one All-Pac-12 honor. The GymDawgs excelled in the classroom as well, with the highest GPA of any sport at Washington and seven Pac-12 All-Academic selections.

The GymDawgs finished the regular season ranked eighth in the country in 2018, their highest regular-season finish ever. That season included Washington's first NCAA Regional event championship since 2012 as Kristyn Hoffa, Zoey Schaefer, and Maya Washington combined to take home a floor championship en route to NCAA Nationals. The GymDawgs recorded four scores of 197 or higher in 2018, tying the program record.

In her first season as head coach of Washington gymnastics, Ray-Statz took the GymDawgs to NCAA Nationals for the first time since 1998. Ray-Statz, who was named Pac-12 Gymnastics Coach of the Year in 2017, coached Washington to an eighth-place overall finish at the NCAA Championships, the program's second-highest finish ever. The second-place finish at the Regional Championships in 2017 was also the highest finish by the Huskies since 1998. In addition to her Coach of the Year award, Ray helped Joslyn Goings, Hailey Burleson, Kaitlyn Duranczyk, and Alexandra Yacalis all make the All-Pac-12 team. The Huskies also had five All-Academic performers in 2017 under Ray-Statz's watch as Burleson, Yacalis, Duranczyk, Malory Rose, and Monica Riley were all honored.

Ray-Statz was named the head coach of the GymDawgs program, Washington Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen announced prior to the 2016-17 season. Ray took over the role held by Joanne Bowers for the last 10 years after Bowers stepped down to be closer to family.

“I am beyond thrilled for the opportunity to be the next head coach of the Washington Gymnastics program,” said Ray-Statz. “I have loved Washington from the day I first interviewed for the assistant job five years ago. There is something extremely special about the people and culture here on Montlake. I’m incredibly grateful to Stephanie Rempe and Jen Cohen who have such belief in me and the program. Joanne gave her all to Washington Gymnastics, every single day, and I can only hope to match her passion. From coach, to boss and mentor, to friend, I’m indebted to her kindness and mentorship. This is truly an honor and I cannot wait to get started.'

Ray-Statz, who was elevated to Associate Head Coach prior to the 2015-16 season, has been influential in the growth of the UW Gymnastics program, both on and off the mat. While on staff, the Dawgs advanced to the NCAA Regional meet every year and sent three individuals to the NCAA Championships.

Ray-Statz helped mentor one of the more decorated Husky gymnasts in Allison Northey who concluded her career at the NCAA Championships and was a three-time All-Pac 12 First Team selection. Additionally, Kaitlyn Duranczyk took home the 2016 Pac-12 bars title, becoming the first GymDawg since 2011 to accomplish the feat and the fifth conference bars champion in team history. Washington also placed a program-best nine student-athletes on the Pac-12 All-Academic teams in 2015-16.

“After learning of Joanne’s desire to spend more time with family, it became very evident to us that the next leader of this program was already here within our program,” said Washington Interim Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen. “Elise Ray-Statz has experienced success at every level of gymnastics competition, and embodies so many of the things we stand for as a University, and an athletic department. It’s hard to imagine someone better positioned to inspire our team to achieve greatness in every area of their lives than Elise.”

Ray-Statz has also played a key role in landing high-profile recruits for the Huskies including the most recent class of 2016 which features the 2016 Junior Olympics National Bar Champion in Evanni Roberson and Madison Copiak, who is currently competing for a chance to represent Canada at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

As an acclaimed gymnast herself, Ray-Statz was an Olympic bronze medalist for team USA at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and also competed at the 1999 World Championships in Tianjin, China.

In 2000, Ray-Statz won both the U.S. National Championships and the Olympic Trials. She was the only American to qualify for an event final in the Olympics. After the Olympics, Ray-Statz competed under Bowers at the University of Michigan, majoring in English. She led her team to the NCAA Super Six finals and was a three-time NCAA National Champion on the bars (2004), the beam (2002) and tied for the all-around title in 2001.

Ray-Statz graduated from Michigan with the most All-American honors in program history with 14 and was inducted into Michigan’s Hall of Fame in October of 2015.

She was born in Tallahassee, Florida, but grew up in Maryland where she attended high school and last lived. Ray-Statz trained at Hill's Gymnastics in Maryland under Kelli Hill.

After graduating, she performed in Las Vegas for Cirque de Soleil’s O and LOVE. Occasionally she would work as a color commentator for the Big 10 Network during broadcasts of women's gymnastics meets. On Aug. 19, 2012, Ray-Statz was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame.