In college gymnastics, change is inevitable. Graduations, transfers, and fresh faces on coaching staffs are part of the cycle. But few could have predicted what unfolded at the start of this week — a seismic shift that marked the end of an era at the University of California, Berkeley. For more than a decade, Justin Howell and Elisabeth Crandall-Howell were the heart and soul of Cal women’s gymnastics. When Justin took the reins in 2012, the program was in disarray, clinging to survival and ranked 49th in the nation. Elisabeth, a former elite gymnast and respected coach in her own right, became co-head coach in 2018. Together, the Crandall-Howells orchestrated a transformation few believed possible.

Under their leadership, Cal didn’t just improve — it soared. The Bears became a powerhouse, culminating in a historic second-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Championships. The couple was named WCGA National Co-Coaches of the Year in 2023 and followed it up with WCGA West Region Coach of the Year honors in 2024. Their legacy seemed secure. And then, on Monday, May 12, the news dropped like a thunderclap.

Clemson University, still in the early days of building its women’s gymnastics program, announced that the Crandall-Howells would be its new co-head coaches. The move came just weeks after the school parted ways with Amy Smith, who had guided the fledgling Tigers through their first three seasons. Meanwhile, the announcement sent ripples across the college gymnastics landscape. While some saw it as an exciting new chapter, for Cal fans, it felt like an unexpected goodbye, one with no warning and little closure. But the change didn’t stop there.

Just 24 hours later, on May 13, another domino fell. Sydney Snyder, a top recruit who had committed to Cal, announced her switch to Clemson. In a heartfelt Instagram post, the 17-year-old thanked the Crandall-Howells and shared a beaming photo of herself clad in Clemson colors. “I can’t wait to be a Tiger💜🧡🐅.” she wrote. For Bears fans, it was salt in the wound.

One longtime supporter took to Reddit to voice the heartbreak: “I really like the Howell’s and I’ll root for them at Clemson, but I’ve loved watching Cal so much it sucks to see it all fall apart so fast. It’s always been such a nice antidote to SEC gymnastics culture.” Indeed, Cal under the Crandall-Howells represented something different — a quiet brilliance, a program that rose through integrity, artistry, and trust in the process. Their sudden departure left a void not just in leadership but in spirit. And now, someone who announced her commitment merely six months ago (October 2024) is shifting to Clemson. The news is itself heartbreaking. However, let’s have a look at Sydney Snyder’s numbers. 

A rising star from Annapolis, Maryland, Sydney Snyder is bringing both talent and tenacity to Clemson’s roster. Training out of the elite First State Gymnastics, Snyder has carved out a name for herself on the national stage. She’s a three-time qualifier for the prestigious Development Program Nationals — making appearances in 2021, 2024, and 2025 — a testament to her consistency and competitive fire. But it’s not just her résumé that turns heads. 

Snyder boasts a career-high all-around score of 38.875, with standout performances across the board: a sharp 9.800 on bars, a powerful 9.750 on vault, a graceful 9.650 on beam, and a dynamic 9.675 on floor. Whether she’s soaring through releases or sticking landings, Snyder brings a polished, poised energy that fits right into the Crandall-Howells’ high-performance vision at Clemson. And the Bears’ fans have started to miss it in camp. 

Bears’ gymnastics fans cry out about the situation at the camp 

The tremors from the Crandall-Howells’ departure are still rippling through the Cal gymnastics community — and the aftershocks keep coming. “this makes me so sad for cal now tho, they are really on a downward spiral,” someone wrote on Reddit on Tuesday. echoing a growing sentiment among Bears loyalists. Just weeks ago, Cal stood among the NCAA elite, finishing third in the Tuscaloosa Regional final. Today, the picture is far less clear.

Not only are the veteran co-head coaches gone — a duo who led the program from near-extinction to the national spotlight — but their departure was swiftly followed by the exit of top recruit Sydney Snyder, who flipped her commitment to Clemson within 24 hours of the coaching announcement. The timing? Brutal. The optics? Worse.

“so the downfall of cal is in full force… kinda sad tbh,” another fan posted. And for many, it does feel like the Bears are bleeding momentum. In just three days, they lost the architects of their golden era and one of the top names in their 2026 class. The hits keep coming, and damage control — if there is any in the works — hasn’t shown itself yet. “Cal just keeps getting hit while they’re down,” wrote one user, summing up the mood. But is it all doom and gloom?

Maybe not. Despite the chaos, Cal hasn’t lost everyone. In fact, two other standout gymnasts from the 2026 class — Imani White and Morgan Reihl — visited Clemson too. But when it came time to commit, they chose Cal. And as of now, they’re still solidly in the Bears’ camp. One fan even tried to pump the brakes on the panic, offering a different perspective on Snyder’s flip: “This isn’t that crazy to me – I don’t know if I believe she’d consistently make lineups at Cal (if she were slotted into last years team at least, I don’t have much insight into their future classes) and she did do a Clemson official visit before the coaching change announcement!”

It’s a valid point. Snyder, while a strong recruit, may have seen a clearer path to early competition and leadership at a growing program like Clemson, especially now with the Crandall-Howells leading the charge. Still, for a program that had finally clawed its way into the national conversation, the unraveling-or, at least, the perception of it—stings. Cal isn’t out of the fight yet, but the next few months will be critical. A new coaching hire, a firming up of remaining commitments, and a strong message to recruits and fans alike could stabilize the ship. But for now, the Bears are navigating unfamiliar territory, without the coaches who built the map.