With two years of injury setbacks, Ava Mabanta moved from student-athlete to student-assistant coach at the University of Denver. Now, Ava has stepped into a new chapter that will illustrate her technical precision in the sport.

The University of Denver named former gymnast Ava Mabanta as its new assistant coach for the 2027 season on May 4, 2026. Mabanta transitions to the role following a medical retirement in 2026. She previously served as a student-assistant coach for the Pioneers.

"This program, this team and this coaching staff mean everything to me. It is truly an honor to continue this journey as an assistant coach at the University of Denver," Mabanta said as reported by DenverPioneers.com.

It can be noted that Ava has a deep bond with her pioneers at Denver because they mean everything to her. She talks about the trust that the university placed in her, and because of her deep care about the people, she is fully committed to helping the student-athlete excel in their routine and build a strong legacy at Denver.

" I am incredibly grateful for the trust and opportunity to represent this program in a new role. I care deeply about the people who make this place special and am fully committed to helping our student-athletes excel while continuing to build on the strong tradition and legacy of Denver Athletics. This is only the beginning. I am so excited for what lies ahead." She said.

As Ava has been part of the program since her athletic days, she brings invaluable knowledge of the university and team culture that will help her make a smooth transition as an assistant coach and lead DU into the 2027 season.

The head coach also reflected on this achievement of Ava Mabanta.

What Did Kutcher-Rinehart Have To Say?

"Ava embodies an unrelenting pursuit of excellence and a genuine investment in this program," Kutcher-Rinehart said. "Over the past four years, she has set herself apart in the way she carries herself with grace, grit, discipline and positivity while consistently showing up for others and elevating everyone around her."

Her journey began in Denver in 2023 as a first-year student-athlete. During this season, the Denver team won its second NCAA Regional title. In her freshman year, she earned a high score on the balance beam of 9.850 and gave four combined exhibition appearances on beam and floor.

During her tenure at Denver, she helped the program maintain its 28-year streak of finishing in the top 25 at nationals. After showing her versatility in the early years, she faced major setbacks for consecutive years due to injuries and later decided to take medical retirement.

"She is a collaborator, a competitor, and a person of genuine character. Having lived this program as a student-athlete, she brings invaluable, first-hand knowledge of our university and our team culture, making this a seamless transition into coaching. The future of our program is bright with Ava on board," He further added.

To prepare herself for her future endeavors, she completed her internship with USA Hockey in the membership department to gain experience in the administrative side of the sports organization. Mabanta would soon graduate with a bachelor's degree in business information & analytics and marketing in June 2026.

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Written by

Sebi Mehta

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi