Fan-favorite Sophia Groth Davila returns as assistant coach, rounds out Auburn gymnastics coaching staff under Ryan Roberts
Groth has been named assistant coach on Auburn’s new staff alongside associate head coach Aja Sims-Fletcher and fellow assistant coach Adam Duncan.
Cue up Dancing Queen.
Former Auburn gymnastics standout Sophia Groth Davila is returning to the Plains to be part of the team’s new coaching staff under Ryan Roberts.
Auburn held Roberts’ introductory press conference Tuesday in Neville Arena and all three assistant coach hires to the staff were made official Wednesday.
Groth Davila’s addition rounds out the staff. A standout freshman on Auburn’s Final Four team in 2022, she grew to become a leading presence for the Tigers throughout her career. Her senior season in 2025, Auburn swept rivals Alabama and Georgia in regular-season duals — with her scoring 9.95s on floor in both meets. She was a steady leadoff on vault, throwing a rock-solid Yurchenko full, and dazzled judges with routines that told a story — to go along with explosive athleticism — on floor. But the most indelible mark she made on Auburn fans may have come on beam, where her big, infectious smile after a nailed skill drew Auburn fans to her. She was named SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in her final season in 2025.
During the 2026 season, gymnasts on Auburn’s young team remarked multiple times that there had been a void left by seniors including the COVID seniors and the fourth-year seniors like Groth Davila. Now, one of those voices will be back in the gym as the Tigers try to put those pieces together in 2027 in their first season under Roberts.
Shortly after graduating from Auburn, Davila Groth married former Auburn cheerleader Paul Davila and moved to Texas to start work as an athletics development assistant at SMU.
Roberts in his introductory press conference mentioned he wanted a younger, female, former athlete voice to round out the staff: “I think it’s important to have that connection, just because they can relate and they can support them in different ways that I can’t,” Roberts said.
Here’s a look at the two other members of Auburn’s new coaching staff, finalized Wednesday:
Aja Sims-Fletcher
Position: Associate head coach
Roberts’ new second-in-command, the addition of Sims-Fletcher excited gymnastics fans online Wednesday.
Sims-Fletcher, a former All-American at Alabama, most recently spent two seasons as assistant coach at Illinois. She also spent time as a volunteer assistant at Alabama. Roberts mentioned going after “go-getters” a few times during her press conference, and Sims-Fletcher proved to be that when she took on the challenge of being the first head coach of Talladega College’s fledgling HBCU program. The program only lasted a year, though, leading Sims-Fletcher to Illinois.
“I’m incredibly honored to join the Auburn Family and be part of such a prestigious program,” Sims-Fletcher said in a release from the university. “I’m excited to work alongside coach Ryan Roberts and this talented team as we strive to compete at the highest level and continue building a championship culture in the SEC. I’m passionate about developing student-athletes both on and off the floor and can’t wait to contribute to a program built on excellence, discipline and growth.”
Roberts also said Tuesday that in his second-in-command he was looking for another strong female voice that can accentuate his own communication with the gymnasts. He also mentioned that SEC experience was important to him in finding his associate head coach.
“Aja is exactly who we want representing Auburn gymnastics,” Roberts said Wednesday. “As a former standout gymnast and someone with NCAA coaching experience, she was what I was looking for in an associate head coach. She brings a relentless work ethic and a genuine ability to connect with student-athletes. More importantly, she elevates the standard in the gym every single day. This is a championship-caliber addition to this program.”
Adam Duncan
Position: Assistant coach
Duncan comes to Auburn from the club ranks. He coached gymnasts in the Dallas area for 17-plus years including five years at World Olympic Gymnastics Academy, where Roberts has also spent a portion of his career, from 2017-2021.
“Adam is a skilled technician, a relentless go-getter and someone who will be an outstanding recruiter for our program,” Roberts said. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with him in a number of settings over the years and what stands out is his consistency and attention to detail. He understands the standard we’re building at Auburn and I’m excited for the impact he’ll have on our team.”
Roberts said Tuesday that the assistant he was looking at in this spot — ultimately revealed to be Duncan — had developed an A.I. tool to assist in recruiting. Auburn in its announcement mentioned Duncan has experience in analytics and data study having worked recently with Capital One Financial Corp. He’ll also serve as spotter on the team — duties generally held by men on staff, catching the gymnasts on bars if they fall or when they’re bouncing off of floor on tumbling passes.
“I am incredibly grateful to coach Ryan Roberts and the entire Auburn gymnastics program for this opportunity,” Duncan said. “Auburn has a storied tradition, a passionate fanbase and I couldn’t be more excited to be part of building something special on the Plains. I am thrilled to begin helping these student-athletes reach their full potential in the gym, in the classroom and beyond. War Eagle!”
This is PERFECT! Love love love Sophia! My wife and I had the pleasure of meeting her at the Metroplex Challenge this year in Ft Worth. Her smile and her energy are terrific! We got to sit in the Auburn section and meet some of the athlete’s families. It was a wonderful experience even though we didn’t win the meet. Sophia was so great to the Auburn community too. Love this!! War Eagle! 🦅