Annabella James, a two-year captain for the Lady Flames, will launch her coaching career as an assistant to fifth-year Head Coach Jessie Lowe.
Recent graduates James, Sierra will complement Lowe on gymnastics coaching staff
8/13/2026 3:44:00 PM | Gymnastics
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A two-time All-Around finalist at the NAIGC National Championships, Annabella James’ progression over the past four seasons has prepared her well for coaching.
After spending the past two years as a captain for Liberty University's gymnastics team, serving as an assistant coach under fifth-year Head Coach Jessie Lowe ('17) should be a natural fit for Annabella James ('26) this fall.
"I love the girls, and this is a great way to stay connected to the team and continue to pour into them, so I'm beyond excited," James said. "I love Jessie (Lowe), and she made such an impact on me and so did the previous assistant coach (former team captain AJ (Kenniv) Tan ('23)). AJ was such a great influence. She helped me in life and gymnastics, and she was also a really good friend and mentor."
James admits her connections with former teammates may make coaching them a bit awkward at first but said she is confident they will adapt quickly to the dynamics of her new role.
"I formed really close bonds with all of the girls this past year, so it's definitely going to be an adjustment to be their coach this year," James said. "I want to have fun with them, but I also want to push and challenge them in their sport."
Lowe, who competed for the Lady Flames from 2013-17 and served as assistant coach for three seasons, said James and Izzy Sierra ('26), who will serve as a volunteer assistant coach, make a perfect complement to the coaching staff as former student-athletes.
"It's great because it helps with continuity with the returning girls," Lowe said. "They already trust Annabella's leadership as a captain for the past two years, and she is really great at listening to the girls, so it should be a pretty smooth transition this season."
James said the team's Spirit-filled culture strengthens the bonds between teammates and makes the Lady Flames stand out from the crowd at competitions.
"This team is so special because we all have a common faith and I don't think you can find that anywhere else, a team that is so strongly rooted in that," she said.
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James competes on the balance beam, the event she will be responsible for coaching, during the March 2025 Flippin' Flames Invitational.
Lowe said James progressed rapidly in the sport throughout her four years at Liberty.
"She really had an interesting athletic journey," Lowe said. "She came in without some skills she needed and really improved every single year in our program. She competed at the Excel Diamond level when she came out of her high school program and really worked hard and did a lot to improve her skills. She became a foundational member for our team for the last two years, when she was able to make it to the Level 9 All-Around final (at NAIGC National Championships)."
After completing a double major with B.S. degrees in Family and Consumer Sciences: Event Planning and Professional and Creative Industries, James now works in Lynchburg as a wedding planner and wedding director at Bloom by Doyle's. Her level-headedness in pressure situations translates well to both wedding planning and coaching.
"She is really good at maintaining consistent emotion and never really got flustered (as a student-athlete)," Lowe said. "She stays even keeled and is easygoing and dependable emotionally, which is why a lot of the girls appreciated her leadership. She is also really creative and enjoys being around our team. She was a freshman when I started as head coach and was in our crew that helped solidify our culture for the past four years, and it is great to keep her on for that reason."
Lowe will continue to coach the gymnasts on the uneven bars while James will work with them on the balance beam. The two will share coaching duties for both the floor exercise and vault.
"I want to be supporting them emotionally and physically, being a second person to give advice and help them balance their personal lives and their lives as athletes," said James, who is engaged to be married next summer to Brady Wilson ('25, B.S. in Digital Media & Journalism), a nuclear technician at Framatome. "My biggest thing is I want incoming freshmen to know that this is not an individual sport anymore. We compete as a team and for the team."
She is looking forward to finding a few diamonds in the rough at the team's tryouts from Aug. 26-28 in the gymnastics studio at the Club Sports Complex.
"We have about 10 (student-athletes) returning and two recruits committed right now," James said, noting last season's roster featured 16 gymnasts. "In the past, all of our freshmen have come in with so much good energy and fit in perfectly, and I have no doubt this year's incoming class will, too."
By Ted Allen/Staff WriterJames meets with a young fan after the Flippin' Flames Invitational at the LaHaye Multipurpose Center in 2025. (Photos by Grace Greer)
