The Bruins aren’t just making noise on the floor. They’re making waves on the sidelines, too. In a bold move that signals even greater artistic energy and competitive dominance ahead, UCLA Gymnastics has elevated one of its most dynamic minds to a leadership role. This promotion doesn’t just reward talent; it reinforces a creative force that’s redefined what floor routines can look like on the NCAA stage. So, who are we talking about here?

Well, it’s none other than BJ Das. She’s the visionary behind the viral routines of Jordan Chiles that captivated millions. The creative architect of championship-winning performances. And now, she’s stepping into a bigger spotlight. After joining the Bruins staff in 2020 and transforming floor exercise into an artistic showcase, UCLA’s choreography mastermind has officially been named associate head coach.

“I am so excited to announce BJ’s promotion to Associate Head Coach,” said Janelle McDonald, the R.C. Rothman UCLA Head Gymnastics Coach. “The dedication, passion, and creativity that BJ brings to the gym each and every day helps instill confidence and competitive belief in our student-athletes that can be seen and felt on and off the competition floor,” McDonald further added.

The UCLA head coach also praised her newly promoted assistant for inspiring the team through authenticity, joy, and artistic integrity. “She inspires us all to be authentically ourselves and to bring both art and joy into our process,” McDonald stated. Since arriving at UCLA, BJ Das has been a game-changer. First volunteering her time and then quickly rising to assistant coach in 2023, Das has infused the Bruins with performance energy that fuses artistry and athleticism.

Her choreography has left an unmistakable mark. Not just on the scoreboard, but on the sport itself. The numbers speak volumes: UCLA has been ranked No. 1 in the nation on floor three times during her tenure, with a record-setting 52 straight meets scoring over 49 points on that apparatus. Das has been the creative mind behind seven perfect 10 routines, two NCAA Championship floor exercises, and several viral routines, including those from Nia Dennis that each racked up over 11 million views on social media.

The 2025 season underscored her legacy. Her floor choreography helped deliver a runner-up NCAA finish, the program’s best conference floor score ever, and a floor lineup that recorded one of the highest team scores in school history. 49,800 on three separate occasions. Two of her latest masterpieces, performed by Brooklyn Moors and Jordan Chiles, didn’t just earn championship titles.

No, they reinforced UCLA’s identity as the nation’s premier floor team. Her impact isn’t just felt in competition but in the confidence and identity her routines bring to the athletes who perform them. Before building a gymnastics empire in Westwood, Das made her name as a performer in the entertainment world. Dancing live with Beyoncé, Usher, and P!nk, and appearing in music videos for Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber.

She’s choreographed for network television, award shows, and arena tours, bringing a sense of showbiz flair into the gym that sets her athletes apart. Her work has made UCLA floor routines as much a cultural moment as they are competitive statements. With a background rooted in psychology and her years as a collegiate gymnast at Washington, Das brings an unmatched blend of artistry, athletic insight, and psychological intuition for the role.

As the Bruins gear up for the 2026 season with momentum and magic on their side, Das’ promotion doesn’t just recognize past brilliance. It signals even more artistry and excellence ahead. And thanks to Das, UCLA made quite the splash this season in the NCAA.

UCLA gymnastics makes Big Ten history with undefeated run and record-breaking title win

UCLA gymnastics didn’t just enter the Big Ten; it rewrote the script. In its inaugural season, the Bruins went undefeated in conference competition and capped off their dominance by seizing both the regular-season and championship titles. The grand finale came inside Ann Arbor’s Crisler Arena, where the Bruins posted a record-setting 198.450 to clinch the 2025 Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics Championships. 

It was the highest team total ever recorded in the event’s history! Leading the charge was Chae Campbell, who captured UCLA’s first all-around crown with a 39.725. On the floor, where the Bruins had been electric all season, Jordan Chiles and Brooklyn Moors delivered the exclamation point. The duo scored matching 10s, the first on floor at the championships since 2014, becoming the first teammates to do so in the same meet.

The historic night also saw Ciena Alipio notch a perfect 10 on beam, a feat never before accomplished by a Bruin in the championship’s history. Altogether, UCLA became the first team to have three gymnasts score 10s in a single Big Ten championship. Even amid a mid-season slump on bars and beam, UCLA’s composure never faltered.

Though Campbell admitted, “We got a little tight” in the lead-up to the postseason, the Bruins turned that tension into triumph. Moors called the rowdy quad-meet setting leading into the championships “super loud and exciting,” crediting it as perfect preparation for their historic finale. In just one season, UCLA didn’t just join the Big Ten. It conquered it.