Janelle McDonald: Ushering in a New Era for UCLA Gymnastics
The UCLA Bruins women's gymnastics team, a powerhouse representing the University of California, Los Angeles, and competing in the Big Ten Conference, has a new leader at the helm. Janelle McDonald, formerly an assistant coach at UC Berkeley since 2019, has been named the head coach, signaling a fresh chapter for the program. The team competes in Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, a venue that witnessed an attendance record of 12,907 during a meet with Stanford on March 10, 2019.
A Legacy of Excellence
The UCLA gymnastics program boasts a rich history, consistently producing top-tier athletes and achieving remarkable success. The program has been represented at every Olympic Games since 1984, with the exception of 1988, showcasing its commitment to excellence on the international stage.
Notable figures associated with the program include Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Michelle Giuda, psychologist Onnie Willis Rogers, stuntwoman Heidi Moneymaker, and a constellation of Olympic gymnasts: Jamie Dantzscher, Mohini Bhardwaj, Kate Richardson, Tasha Schwikert, Kristen Maloney, Yvonne Tousek, Stella Umeh, Luisa Portocarrero, Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs, Sam Peszek, Peng Peng Lee, Jennifer Pinches, Jordyn Wieber (former Bruins team manager and volunteer assistant coach), Kyla Ross, Madison Kocian, Brooklyn Moors, Jordan Chiles, and Emma Malabuyo.
The Bruins have a history of Pac-10/Pac-12 titles, with victories in 2009, 2010, and 2019. In 2009, they secured their 14th Pac-10 title and were seeded 7th in the NCAA National Championships, finishing second at the NCAA North Central Regionals behind Florida. The team won its 15th Pacific-10 Championship in 2010, highlighted by Anna Li's perfect 10 on uneven bars. The Bruins won the Pac-12 championship in 2019 with a score of 198.4, setting a new Pac-12 Gymnastics Championship record.
The team has also had success in the NCAA National Championships, winning their seventh NCAA title in 2018 in St Louis. In 2014, UCLA did not qualify to Saturday night's Super Six competition in Birmingham, AL. In 2015, UCLA captured the team's 21st Regional Championship with a score of 197.500 points at the NCAA Columbus Regional. In 2016, UCLA finished second at the Salt Lake City Regional and advanced to the NCAA Gymnastics Championships for the 32nd time. In 2017, UCLA finished 4th at the NCAA Super Six Finals.
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McDonald's Vision for the Bruins
Martin Jarmond, UCLA’s Alice and Nahum Lainer Director of Athletics, expressed confidence in McDonald's ability to lead the program, stating, “Janelle has been exemplary at connecting with and developing young people at every level of her coaching career. Her enthusiasm and energy is contagious. She understands and respects the Bruin legacy and the commitment to excellence this program deserves as one of the best in the country."
McDonald herself conveyed her enthusiasm upon accepting the position: "I am honored and so grateful to be joining the UCLA Athletics family! From the moment I stepped onto campus, I could feel the Bruin pride and tradition of excellence around every corner," said McDonald, according to a press release. "I would like to thank Martin Jarmond and Dr.
Prior to her tenure at Cal, McDonald honed her skills at WOGA Gymnastics in Dallas, Texas, collaborating with 1996 Olympian Cecile Landi and her husband, Laurent. This experience undoubtedly shaped her coaching philosophy and prepared her for the challenges of leading a program like UCLA.
Madison Kocian, a UCLA graduate, lauded McDonald's passion and leadership qualities, stating, "Janelle's passion and love for the sport radiates throughout her. She exudes qualities that will make an incredible head coach, mentor and leader for this program."
Navigating the Big Ten Conference
UCLA's recent move to the Big Ten Conference presents both opportunities and challenges. In its first season in the Big Ten Conference, UCLA won its first-ever Big Ten regular season title and conference championship title. The conference consistently features teams scoring higher than 197, demanding a high level of performance from the Bruins.
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McDonald acknowledged the significance of representing UCLA in the Big Ten, stating, "We want to go out there and represent the four letters the best we can each and every year. Really proud of the consistency our team has shown to do just that.”
Building Confidence and Managing Fatigue
With a team comprised of elite veterans and promising underclassmen, McDonald and her coaching staff have focused on fostering growth, building confidence, and managing the physical and mental demands of the season.
McDonald emphasized the importance of refining details and prioritizing rest and recovery, stating, “Not every day has to look like full-out competition-mode routines. It’s really about refining the details and doing things that help us feel great for the weekend and trusting that each weekend your gymnastics is where it needs to be.” In the last two weeks, the coaching staff has worked to shift the team’s mentality to be cognizant of the rest and recovery needed heading into the postseason without letting up during meets.
McDonald wants her team to stay focused on what it can control within the Bruin Bubble. “All those things are very much in alignment with how a postseason competition feels,” McDonald said. “Really just reminding them that this is great practice for what’s coming ahead; it’s definitely something we’ve talked about this week.”
The Influence of Emma Malabuyo
Emma Malabuyo, a former Bruin and four-time All-American, has transitioned into a graduate student assistant role, providing valuable support to the coaching staff and athletes. Her experience as a recent competitor allows her to connect with the gymnasts on a deeper level and offer unique insights.
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McDonald praised Malabuyo's coaching style, describing it as "supportive, caring, and really hungry to be great." She further noted, “It’s very helpful for our athletes to be able to talk through things with her because she is now able to understand what they’re going through, but also see it from a coach’s perspective. Her [coaching] style is just typical of who she is and that’s really just supportive, caring and really hungry to be great.”
Recent Accomplishments and Looking Ahead
In 2024, Selena Harris was named the Pac-12 Gymnast of the Year, after winning the All-Around at the Pac-12 Championships and scoring four 10.0s during the season. UCLA is coming off a season-high road score against Illinois. Jordan Chiles earned her eighth consecutive Big Ten Conference Gymnast of the Week award, a conference record for most in a season. Ashlee Sullivan tied teammate Tiana Sumanasekera for the most Freshman of the Week awards by receiving her third honor after setting a career high on vault and tying her best score on the floor.
With a focus on continuous improvement and a commitment to excellence, the UCLA gymnastics team, under the leadership of Janelle McDonald, is poised to make a significant impact in the Big Ten Conference and beyond. As UCLA looks ahead to postseason competition, McDonald and the coaching staff have been mindful of the young team’s approach to staying locked in while managing fatigue.
The strategy doesn’t change, and facing three tough opponents will give the Bruins the opportunity to immerse themselves in a postseason environment. UCLA will not choose the event it starts with, there is no time for exhibition routines and there will be no open training on other events. There will be a lot going on, with four teams on the floor. It’s easy to get distracted.
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