It was announced this morning that long-time UCLA gymnastics coach, Valerie Kondos Field, will retire after the 2019 season, completing 37 years of service to the UCLA community.
“Bittersweet”, says it all. That what UCLA Gymnastics head coach Valerie Kondos Field said in a tweet on Thursday morning when she announced that she will be retiring at the end of the 2019 season.
A legend will be leaving UCLA and though it will be hard to move on without UCLA gymnastics’ most decorated coach, it has also been a pleasure to have Kondos Field represent the Bruins for nearly four decades.
Kondos Field will retire after the upcoming season, completing 29 years at the helm of the gymnastics squad and 37 total as part of the Bruins’ coaching staff.
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In her time in charge of the program, Kondos Field has captured seven national championships with the most recent coming in 2018 as the Bruins came from behind to shock the nation and take down the favorite, Oklahoma back in April.
In addition to that, the legendary coach has brought to Westwood 19 NCAA Regional titles, 14 Pac-12 Conference Championships and (up until now) an extraordinary record of 516-120-3. With one more season to go, hopefully, she can add to each one of those acheievements, especially title #8.
But it is not just the coach’s acheievements with her squad that make her a legend, it is what she has meant to the UCLA community as a whole. As a survivor of cancer, she has been an inspiration to many Bruins, proving that in the direst of circumstances, there is always a chance to Fight, Fight, Fight!
On top of that, she has always been a proud supporter of everything regarding UCLA Atheltics. Whether it is at a football game, a men’s/women’s basketball game or cheering on several other Bruins’ sports, Kondos Field has always been loud and proud in representing her school.
Kondos Field is not just a UCLA gymnastics legend, she is a UCLA legend.
I have had the immense privilege & pleasure of serving @UCLA and its athletic department for the past 36 years. I have enjoyed every moment of this journey, so it is bittersweet to announce that I will retire as the head coach of the @uclagymnastics team following the '19 season. pic.twitter.com/acLSqY5img
— Valorie Kondos Field (@OfficialMissVal) September 20, 2018
Bittersweet. That it is indeed. Though it will sad to see her go, that has to wait. She still has a job to do and UCLA gymnastics should help her go out with a bang! Go Bruins! Go Miss Val!