LSU Gymnastics made history with its first national title win on Saturday. The team showcased stellar performances from all-around champion Haleigh Bryant, standout freshman Konnor McClain, and leaders Kiya Johnson and Aleah Finnegan. In a heartwarming display of sportsmanship and respect, LSU’s triumph in the NCAA Finals under the guidance of Head Coach Jay Clark has captured headlines. He said afterward, “Just so many emotions for so many reasons.”

Beyond the exhilarating victory, Coach Clark’s touching gesture toward 71-year-old retired D-D Breaux has resonated deeply with fans and onlookers alike. This instance serves as a testament not only to LSU’s athletic prowess but also to the camaraderie and mutual admiration within the coaching community.

Coach Jay Clark’s touching tribute steals the show at NCAA Finals

The Tigers with a thrilling competition until the very last routine closed out the performance with an outstanding beam rotation of 49.7650 with 5 of the counting scores of 9.9500 or higher. Recently, Scott Bregman posted a heartwarming gesture of Jay Clark on his X account stating, “Jay Clark on finding long-time coach D-D Breaux in the stands after their victory today”; “I just felt it was important that when this program won its first national title, that it’d be hers as well.” It indicates that the LSU present coach, Jay Clark, after the win, didn’t forget to take the former coach’s name who has been in his shoes before. Coach Clark joined LSU in 2012 alongside veteran coach D-D Breaux. Jay Clark’s heartfelt gesture became the highlight of the event, capturing everyone’s attention.

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On Saturday, Breaux watched proudly as the program she built claimed the top spot on the podium at Dickies Arena. Clark said of Breaux, “She gave me an opportunity to join her when I needed one, and she had worked 35 years on building this program before I got here and, then, treated me like a partner rather than an assistant”. Before the match, when D-D Breaux was asked if this match was any different than the previous matches, she stated that it was no other than matches played before.

She mentioned with a confident tone about Jay Clarke, “you know Jay Clark is the man, he’s the guy, he was with me for a long part of my journey and for him to be charge in this team and for them knocking on the door of a national championship, for me is as gratifying as if I was there myself.” This shows the immense bond between them. Jay Clarke, who succeeded D-D Breaux as the head coach, is now aiming for a successive win in the Summer Games 2024.

LSU’s next chapter and preparations for Paris

As LSU Gymnastics celebrates its recent successes, head coach Jay Clark is already setting his sights on the next chapter for the program. With a keen eye for excellence and a drive for continuous improvement, Clark is strategizing the team’s preparations for the upcoming challenges, particularly the road leading to Paris 2024. Clark expressed his emotions about coaching LSU and praised the character of the girls and said, “We’re blessed”, continuing his statement, “We’re fortunate to have great kids. Their character, their integrity, you know. I’m blessed as a coach to be able to coach, I’m blessed as a coach to be at LSU.” 

Clark’s coaching philosophy centers on holistic development, both athletically and personally. Jay, after the recent win, expressed joy and praised the team stating, “This team is full of individuals that have incredible character and integrity and love for each other and all the things that you hear from coaches when they sit on a podium like this in a moment of victory. But I promise you, it’s a real thing.” As the gymnasts continue to hone their skills and build camaraderie under Clark’s guidance, the LSU is poised for an exciting journey toward achieving greatness in Paris and beyond.