OU gymnastics assistant coach Ashley Kerr resigns from Sooners

NORMAN — Oklahoma women’s gymnastics assistant coach Ashley Kerr has resigned after nine seasons with the program, and the Sooners are turning to one of their own to fill the vacancy.

OU coach K.J. Kindler announced Tuesday that former national champion gymnast Olivia Trautman will replace Kerr on the Sooners’ staff after spending the 2026 season as an assistant coach at Utah State.

"With gratitude and a heavy heart, we say goodbye to Ashley after nine seasons," Kindler said in a statement. "Ashley's impact on OU gymnastics will be long-lasting and she will always be a part of our family.”

Kerr, the wife of Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault, joined the Sooners’ staff in 2017 as a volunteer assistant before being elevated to assistant coach in 2023. Working primarily with the balance beam group, she helped OU win five national championships — in 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025 and 2026.

"After sincere thought, I have decided to resign from my position as assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma," Kerr said. " My nine years at OU have brought me great joy and fulfillment.”

The Sooners are fresh off another dominant season under Kindler, finishing 35-1-1 in 2026 while winning the SEC regular-season title, a 16th consecutive NCAA regional championship and the program’s eighth national championship in the last 12 seasons.

Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a