In the purple-filled celebration in Dickies Arena on April 20, the focus once shifted from Olivia Dunne and others to Jay Clark affectionately hugging a lady wearing an LSU Tigers jacket. After congratulating the HC, the lady moved to the LSU Tigers’ pack to share her love and joy. The judicious lady was D-D Breaux, often known as the main sculptor of the LSU Tigers’ success. D-D Breaux is the one who brought Jay Clark to Baton Rouge as the assistant coach of the LSU Tigers’ gymnastics squad. So, at the winning moment, the veteran coach revealed many previously unspoken insights. 

Jay Clark thanked D-D Breaux, Sarah Patterson, and Suzanne Yoculan for paving his path in the LSU after his stint with Georgia Gymnastics. Remembering D-D especially, he also acknowledged bringing him into Baton Rouge when his alma mater couldn’t believe in him. Eventually, apart from sharing a deep-rooted connection with Georgia Gymnastics, Jay Clark was the protagonist there to frame the overall schedule. But a failure to win the national title in three consecutive years landed him outside the program. But D-D Breaux saw the potential in Jay Clark. 

Jay Clark said, “She was a big part of this program—the 43 years that she put in there and the battles that she fought, whether it was Title IX or anything else—I just felt it was important that when this program won its first national title that it’d be hers as well.” Under her guidance, Jay Clark has attained a legendary status in the sport. 

Since Clark’s induction in 2012, the magical duo proceeded with making milestones. Meanwhile, after leading the pack for 43 seasons, D-D Breaux handed the baton over to Jay Clark in 2020. From then, Olivia Dunne’s gymnastic coach crafted lores for the purple leotards and the latest victory in Dickies Arena is the most glittery stone in the crown. And Clark has numerous shades of his own in that. 

The confluence of recruiting ability and coaching prowess 

In his Georgia stint, Jay Clark received fame for honing his expertise in the bar schedule. After stepping into Baton Rouge, Clark employed that prowess in full swing. Under his tutelage, the Tigers received 39 All-America honors on bars. In his 12-year stint with the program, he enabled the Tiger Ladies to finish in the top-10 list 8 times. Notably, he coached Haleigh Bryant to shape her expertise. Eventually, Haleigh ended up this season being one of the top scorers on the bar schedule. Another factor that worked behind his success was having a free hand in driving the team. 

In his thanking note to D-D Breaux and other pole stars, Jay Clark repeatedly expressed his fortune to grow under their shadow. So after having the reins in 2021, Jay Clark included several faces that later played an important role in earning the national title. One of those is Savannah Schoenherr. The former Gator scored phenomenally after facing a few early heartbreaks this season. Furthermore, Jay continuously motivated Olivia Dunne despite her injury-prone nature and falling abilities. That paid off eventually.

Bringing the best of Olivia Dunne 

Olivia Dunne’s emergence in the LSU camp came in 2021-the same time Jay Clark became the head coach after D-D Breaux. Since her stepping in, Livvy became a scintillating challenger to the big names, such as Haleigh Bryant, and Aleah Finnegan, in the camp. Additionally, her beam prowess found a special ovation under Jay Clark where her floor exercise expertise remained jubilant. 

Under Jay Clark’s mentorship, Olivia Dunne was named to the 2022 SEC Academic Honor Roll and the 2023 Winter SEC Academic Honor Roll. This year as well, Clark used Livvy tactically to earn momentum. The Arkansas Regional is the best example of it. Olivia displayed a glittering floor performance on that occasion. 

Watching such mastery from Jay Clark, D-D Breaux could only add, it’s the gratification of building something great and seeing it continue to be great when I’m not driving that train; Jay is, and he’s doing a great job.”