University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: Carolina Athletics welcomes new gymnastics and women’s golf coaches

Carolina Athletics has announced two new coaches.

Danna Durante, who led the University of Georgia to three Super Six appearances and is a 20-year college coaching veteran, has been named as the new gymnastics coach. Aimee Neff, a former associate head coach at UNC-Chapel Hill, has been named as the new women’s golf coach.

Durante was a two-time member of the Gymnastics Federation and was an All-Pac 10 gymnast at Arizona State. She returns to coaching after spending four years recruiting top talent for executive teams for Fortune 500 companies and serving as operations director for What Drives Winning. Read more about Durante’s background.

Neff spent the last three years as head coach at Florida Atlantic University, helping the Owls propel their ‘Golfweek’ ranking from No. 189 in 2018-19 to No. 94 in the nation this past season. She was a four-time All-Big Ten golfer at Michigan State. Read more about Neff’s background.

Durante becomes Carolina’s fourth head gymnastics coach. Derek Galvin, who coached the Tar Heels’ gymnastics team for 39 years, retired in June of 2020.

Neff also becomes the fourth head coach in Carolina women’s golf history, joining Dot Gunnells (1974-93), Sally Austin (1993-2009 seasons) and Jan Mann (2009-21).