Coaching Staff

JANELLE McDONALD

Head Coach 1st Season Arizona State ‘11

Former University of California assistant coach Janelle McDonald, who holds two decades of coaching experience, was named the new head coach of the UCLA Gymnastics team on May 9, 2022. “Janelle has been exemplary at connecting with and developing young people at every level of her coaching career,” UCLA’s Alice and Nahum Lainer Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond said. “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. I am extremely con dent in Janelle’s ability to lead the Bruins and am thrilled to welcome her to Westwood.” “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. “I would like to thank Martin Jarmond and Dr. Christina Rivera for entrusting my vision and passion to lead this program into its next chapter.” McDonald helped coach California to unprecedented success during her four seasons in Berkeley (2019-22), as the Golden Bears won their rst-ever Pac-12 regular season title in 2022 and earned a seventh-place NCAA nish in 2021, which matched their highest-ever nish. Serving as the team’s uneven bars head coach, McDonald coached Maya Bordas to California’s rst-ever NCAA individual championship in 2021, while the uneven bars squad nished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation and tied a NCAA record with a team score of 49.825. In 2022, all six uneven bars performers ranked in the Top 15 in the region, with three earning All-Pac-12 honors. The Top 7 uneven bars scores in school history have come under McDonald’s watch. During her tenure, California gymnasts earned a total of 17 All-America honors, including six on uneven bars. McDonald was honored in 2020 and 2021 as the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Regional Assistant Coach of the Year and was part of the 2021 College Gym News Coaching Staff of the Year. “I am very grateful to Justin Howell, Liz Crandall-Howell and Cal Athletics for providing me a place to learn and grow over the past four seasons,” McDonald said. “My experiences in Berkeley and with the student-athletes on the Cal gymnastics team have pushed me to become a better version of myself and have prepared me to take on this new opportunity. I cannot wait to get started with our team and build with them a culture that will honor and continue the great history of this program.” McDonald, who began her coaching career in 1999 while in high school, has extensive coaching experience at the club level, including a six-year (2012-18) tenure at WOGA, which earned USA Gymnastics Texas Junior Olympic Program of the Year honors in 2015. She coached all four events at the elite, optional and compulsory levels, mentoring USA Championship quali ers and various athletes who earned full-ride scholarships to NCAA Division I programs. Prior to WOGA, McDonald was the TOPS team coach at Legacy Elite Gymnastics and also coached Level 3-10 team gymnasts. She also spent eight years coaching at Desert Lights Gymnastics, where she coached all levels of competitive gymnastics, choreographed balance beam and oor exercise routines and was the TOPS Team Director and Compulsory Team Director. McDonald was named the 2005 USAG Arizona Rookie Coach of the Year and the 2006 USAG Arizona Compulsory Coach of the Year, and she was part of the staff that earned 2009-2010 USAG Arizona Coaching Staff of the Year acclaim. Since 2020, McDonald has served as the head coach on vault and uneven bars for Level 7-10 athletes at East Bay Gymnastics, coaching numerous state and regional champions. “Janelle’s passion and love for the sport radiates throughout her,” said two-time Olympic medalist and former UCLA All-American and NCAA champion Madison Kocian, whom McDonald helped coach and support at WOGA. “She exudes qualities that will make an incredible head coach, mentor and leader for this program. I’m so excited to cheer her on as she upholds the UCLA Gymnastics legacy.” McDonald graduated from Arizona State University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies. While at Arizona State, she interned for the Sun Devil gymnastics program in 2010. She has owned a National Association of Women’s Gymnastics Judges (NAWGJ) certi cation since 2001.

What They’re Saying …

“I’m excited to welcome Janelle McDonald into the Bruin family. In addition to being extremely accomplished in the world of coaching, she exudes both con dence and energy. More importantly, Janelle is dedicated to elevating the sport through empowering student-athletes to become the best version of themselves.”

- Former UCLA Head Coach and UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame member Valorie Kondos Field

“I’ve known Janelle for quite some time now. It’s been amazing watching her grow as a coach and seeing the way she can add to a college team. Change is always exciting, and so is a new perspective. I can’t wait to see where she leads this team.”

- Two-time NCAA Champion Katelyn Ohashi (UCLA ‘19)

“I am beyond proud and excited for Janelle and the UCLA Gymnastics program! I had the honor of working alongside her for many years, and she is one of the best people and coaches I have ever met. UCLA Gymnastics is very lucky to have her. I know she will be able to bring out the best of everyone in the program.”

- Cecile Landi, Girls Team Assistant Head Coach, World Champions Centre

BJ DAS

Assistant Coach 4th Season

Professional choreographer and dancer BJ Das begins her fourth season on UCLA’s coaching staff and rst as a full-time assistant coach after serving as the volunteer assistant coach from 2020-22. Each year as the Bruins’ choreographer, Das created oor exercise routines that went viral, including two routines from Nia Dennis that each amassed over 11 million views just on Twitter alone. Das also put together two routines that won Pac-12 oor exercise championships (Chae Campbell and Pauline Tratz in 2021) and three routines that scored perfect 10s (Gracie Kramer in 2020, Campbell twice in 2022 and Jordan Chiles twice in 2022). UCLA’s oor exercise squad ranked rst in the nation at the conclusion of the 2020 season, and their team score of 49.8, set Feb. 23, was the nation’s highest event score on any apparatus all season. In addition to her volunteer coaching role, Das assisted the Bruins in marketing and fundraising efforts and culture and team building. She also directed the Bruin Gymnastics Academy recreational program and summer camps. “Over the past three years, BJ has demonstrated that she is one of the most innovative choreographers and coaches in our sport,” said UCLA head coach Janelle McDonald. “She has a gift of bringing out the very best in our student-athletes by creating and coaching routines that showcase each individual’s strengths and personality. She builds strong connections with the student-athletes and seeks to celebrate each individual and the unique qualities they possess. Her character, energy and passion are exactly the example I want in the gym every day for the young women on our team.” As a professional dancer, Das has performed live with Beyonce, P!nk and Usher and toured with Avril Lavigne. Her music video credits include Beyonce’s “Run the World (Girls)”, Ariana Grande’s “Baby I” and Justin Bieber/Nicki Minaj’s “Beauty and a Beat”. Das has also performed live at the 2019 Grammy Awards, the 2018 American Music Awards and on the Ellen Show, The Voice and Late Show with James Corden, among others. Additionally, Das has choreographed for TV shows GLOW, Fresh Off the Boat and The Masked Singer, along with the Emmy Awards and Radio Disney Music Awards. She also served as an assistant choreographer for the Gold Over America Tour in 2021. Her rst Hollywood experience was as a gymnast on the movie Stick It. Das has been signed to Bloc Talent Agency as a dancer and choreographer since 2007. Das was the volunteer assistant coach and choreographer at the University of Utah in 2019, when the Utes ranked in the Top 5 in the nation on oor exercise. A 2006 graduate of the University of Washington, Das earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology. She competed on the Husky gymnastics team for two years.

KYLE GRABLE

Assistant Coach 1st Season

Kyle Grable begins his rst season as the Bruins’ assistant coach after a successful 15-year club coaching career. Grable comes to UCLA from Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center (JPAC) in Indianapolis, where he served as co-head coach for elite development the last ve years. Under his guidance, JPAC was awarded J.O. Club of the Year honors nationally in 2019 and in Region 5 in 2021. Grable, who led the uneven bars instruction for Levels 6-10, coached a Level 10 national all-around champion in 2019, three Level 10 uneven bars national champions, a 2021 Level 10 National beam champion, two Level 10 national all-around runnersup and quali ed athletes to the Nastia Liukin Cup the past four years. Two of Grable’s athletes scored a perfect 10 on uneven bars. From 2007-17, Grable coached at Gym-Nation in Mason, Ohio, assisting in the rebuilding of the gymnastics team program. As the primary vault and uneven bars coach, he helped qualify athletes to Level 9 Easterns and Level 10 Nationals. “The success Kyle has had with his club team and athletes over the years shows his ability to coach high- level and technical gymnastics,” said UCLA head coach Janelle McDonald. “He has a great reputation in the gymnastics community because of the positivity and enthusiasm that he brings into each day. He is someone who carries a growth mindset into everything he does and works extremely hard to bring out the best in everyone around him. In our conversations, I could feel the passion he has to help build a culture of integrity, hard work, inclusivity and fun, and I am very excited for the positive impact Kyle will make on our program.” AUTUMN GRABLE

Volunteer Assistant Coach 1st Season

Autumn Grable begins her rst season as UCLA’s volunteer assistant coach. Grable comes to UCLA from Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center (JPAC) in Indianapolis, where she served as co-head coach for elite development the last ve years. Under her guidance, JPAC was awarded J.O. Club of the Year honors nationally in 2019 and in Region 5 in 2021. Grable, who led the Level 6-10 balance beam and oor exercise squads, coached a Level 10 national all-around champion in 2019, three Level 10 uneven bars national champions, a 2021 Level 10 National beam champion, two Level 10 national all-around runners-up and quali ed athletes to the Nastia Liukin Cup the past four years. Prior to coaching at JPAC, Grable was the beam and oor coach for all levels from compulsory through Level 10 at Gym-Nation from 2011-17, annually helping coach athletes to Level 9 Easterns and Level 10 Nationals, with many earning Top 5 nishes. She also planned the gym’s strength and conditioning program. “Autumn possesses a strong ability to lead, coach and motivate in a positive way,” said UCLA head coach Janelle McDonald. “She has a passion for team-building and making connections with her athletes. Autumn’s coaching experience, paired with her ability to be organized and creative in her approach, makes her the perfect t to lead our beam team.”