Sweet Home Bama

For Alabama Gymnastics Head Coach Ashley Johnston, Tuscaloosa is much more than the place she works. It is where her journey as a Crimson Tide gymnast began and where she and her family have found a community to call home.

Originally from Chicago, Ashley competed for the University of Alabama from 2008 to 2012 alongside her older sister, Courtney. After coaching at universities across the country, she returned to Tuscaloosa in 2022 to lead the program that first brought her south.

Today, Ashley and her husband, Jason, are raising their two children, Colton and Josie, while enjoying life in the NorthRiver community. Her parents have also relocated to Highgrove, and her sister now lives in Gadsden, making Alabama home for much of their family.

Outside the gym, Ashley treasures time on Lake Tuscaloosa, where even a quick afternoon on the water provides a welcome escape from her busy schedule.

As she enters her fifth season leading Alabama Gymnastics, Ashley is focused on building a championship culture rooted in teamwork, joy and preparing student athletes for success beyond their gymnastics careers. She also credits the Tuscaloosa community for its continued support of the program.

That connection will be celebrated on November 20 with the inaugural UA Gymnastics Fashion Show at Coleman Coliseum, bringing together athletics, fashion and local businesses for a unique fundraising experience.

For Ashley, returning to Alabama has been a full circle moment. What began as a college gymnastics opportunity has become a lifelong connection to a place her entire family now calls home.