Janelle McDonald, who coaches elite gymnasts like Jordan Chiles, has been the backbone of UCLA since 2022. She joined UCLA Gymnastics on May 9, 2022, and her resilience helped the Bruins regain national prominence. The return of UCLA gymnastics to the heights of success owes a large part of it to McDonald’s unending excellence and integrity in holistic development, the blueprint for future triumph.

McDonald’s approach to coaching is all about athletes’ well-being and their growth, thus creating an environment that is supportive and has therefore been quite appealing to her gymnasts. Under McDonald’s leadership, UCLA Gymnastics saw a dramatic rise, boosting their national qualifying score (NQS) by nearly nine-tenths—the biggest leap among Power 5 teams. With multiple 198+ scores and a season-high of 198.275, the Bruins proved they’re back in the elite conversation.

Who is Janelle McDonald?

All-American Madison Kocian once said, “Janelle’s passion and love for the sport radiates throughout her.” McDonald coached former UCLA and also gave all her support at WOGA. Kocian further added, “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.” These words of respect and appreciation are all a mentor or coach needs, right?

It seems Janelle McDonald has been an all-rounder and a treasure trove of talent. McDonald had an opportunity to intern with Arizona State’s gymnastics program in 2010, and on top of that, she has a National Association of Women’s Gymnastics Judges (NAWGJ) certification since 2001. Big deal, right?

The current UCLA head coach began her coaching career in 1999, when she was in high school. With extensive club coaching experience, including six years (2012–18) with WOGA, where she was named the 2015 USA Gymnastics Texas Junior Olympic Program of the Year. Since then, she never looked back. And has coached all four events—the elite, optional, and required levels.

But that was just a start; she also coached athletes who qualified for the USA Championship and others who were awarded full-ride scholarships to NCAA Division I schools. 2005 USAG Arizona Rookie Coach of the Year, became a head trainer for the vault and uneven bars sections of the East Bay Gymnastics in 2020. Fast forward to 2022, when she joined UCLA as a head coach, replacing Chris Waller.

In her inaugural season, McDonald’s leadership led UCLA to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships and a share of the Pac-12 regular-season title. Her efforts earned her the 2023 Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) West Region Coach of the Year award, and her coaching staff was recognized as the Coaching Staff of the Year by College Gym News.

How is UCLA thriving in NCAA gymnastics 2025 under her coaching? On March 2, the University of California, Los Angeles, made history by dominating the Big Four meet at Ohio State. That was not just a win but UCLA’s first Big Ten championship. That’s not all, though. Additionally, they have won nine straight conference games, and their coach, Janelle McDonald, is thrilled. Their momentum shows no signs of slowing down. With a 197.200 victory, the Bruins (12-2) dominated the conference and won for the seventh time in a row.

What are Janelle McDonald’s biggest achievements?

Janelle McDonald’s rise in the gymnastics world has been nothing short of remarkable. Her coaching career has been filled with accomplishments, from winning the USA Gymnastics Arizona Rookie Coach of the Year title in 2005 to winning the Compulsory Coach of the Year honor in 2006. But that was just the beginning.

Between 2012 and 2018, McDonald played a key role at WOGA, guiding athletes to the USA Championships and helping them land NCAA Division I scholarships. Then came her game-changing stint at UC Berkeley, where she led the team to the highest National Qualifying Score (NQS) on uneven bars in 2021—tying a 17-year-old NCAA record. Amazing, isn’t it?

That performance earned her a spot on College Gym News’ Coaching Staff of the Year list and the WCGA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year honor. McDonald guided UCLA to a narrow second-place finish at the Pac-12 Championships in 2024, showcasing the team’s resilience under her leadership. She was also the coach of three Bruins who earned All-America honors.

Beyond the collegiate stage, her impact extended internationally—she coached Emma Malabuyo when she secured a bronze medal in the all-around competition at the 2024 Asian Games, a feat that earned Malabuyo a coveted spot at the Paris Olympics. Fast forward to 2022, and McDonald took on her biggest challenge yet—leading UCLA gymnastics. With her at the helm, the Bruins have been soaring, proving that her coaching magic is far from over with her recent title victory.