BJ Das
Photo by: Jan Kim Lim
BJ Das Promoted to UCLA Gymnastics Associate Head Coach
May 29, 2025 | Gymnastics
The UCLA gymnastics program announced the promotion of BJ Das from assistant coach to associate head coach. Das has been on the coaching staff since 2020 and has helped the Bruins earn three conference titles in the last three seasons, along with a 2025 NCAA runner-up finish.
Das has been instrumental in the Bruins maintaining their status as the best floor team in the nation. A professional dancer and choreographer, Das has choreographed two NCAA Championship floor exercise routines (Brooklyn Moors in 2025 and Jordan Chiles in 2023), four conference championship routines (Chae Campbell and Pauline Tratz in 2021 and Moors and Chiles in 2025) and seven routines that have scored perfect 10s (Gracie Kramer in 2020; Campbell in 2022 and 2024; Chiles in 2022, 2023 and 2025; and Moors in 2025). Das has also created multiple floor exercise routines that have gone viral, including two routines from Nia Dennis that each amassed over 11 million views just on X alone.ย
UCLA has finished the year ranked No. 1 in the nation on floor in three of Das' six seasons as Bruin coach (2025, 2023 and 2020), and the Bruins will enter the 2026 season having scored 49+ in a school record 52 consecutive meets. Das' floor squads have produced the school's fourth-ranked floor score of all-time (49.800 twice in 2025 and once in 2020), the Big Ten's highest floor score ever in a conference meet (49.800 at the 2025 Big Ten Championships), and UCLA's highest-ever postseason floor score (49.7125 at the 2023 NCAA Semifinals).
"I am so excited to announce BJ's promotion to Associate Head Coach," said The R.C. Rothman UCLA Head Gymnastics Coach Janelle McDonald. "The dedication, passion and creativity that BJ brings to the gym each and every day helps instill a confidence and competitive belief in our student-athletes that can be seen and felt on and off the competition floor. She inspires us all to be authentically ourselves and to bring both art and joy into our process. This promotion is well-earned, and we are excited to see BJ continue impact our team and create more Bruin Magic in this role!"
Das first came to UCLA in 2020 as a volunteer assistant coach and has been an assistant coach since the 2023 season. In 2023, she was honored by the WCGA as the West Region Co-Assistant Coach of the Year. Also that season, the UCLA coaching staff was selected College Gym News' Coaching Staff of the Year. Prior to joining the UCLA staff, Das was the volunteer assistant coach and choreographer at the University of Utah in 2019, when the Utes ranked in the Top 5 in the nation on floor exercise.
As a professional dancer, Das has performed live with Beyoncé, P!nk and Usher and toured with Avril Lavigne. Her music video credits include Beyoncé's "Run the World (Girls)", Ariana Grande's "Baby I" and Justin Bieber/Nicki Minaj's "Beauty and a Beat". Das has also performed live at the 2019 Grammy Awards, the 2018 American Music Awards and on the "Ellen Show", "The Voice" and "Late Show with James Corden", among others. Additionally, she has choreographed for TV shows "GLOW", "Fresh Off the Boat" and "The Masked Singer", along with the Emmy Awards and Radio Disney Music Awards. She also served as an assistant choreographer for the Gold Over America Tour in 2021 and 2024. Her first Hollywood experience was as a gymnast on the movie "Stick It".ย
Das earned her Bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Washington in 2006. She competed on the Husky gymnastics team for two years.
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Das has been instrumental in the Bruins maintaining their status as the best floor team in the nation. A professional dancer and choreographer, Das has choreographed two NCAA Championship floor exercise routines (Brooklyn Moors in 2025 and Jordan Chiles in 2023), four conference championship routines (Chae Campbell and Pauline Tratz in 2021 and Moors and Chiles in 2025) and seven routines that have scored perfect 10s (Gracie Kramer in 2020; Campbell in 2022 and 2024; Chiles in 2022, 2023 and 2025; and Moors in 2025). Das has also created multiple floor exercise routines that have gone viral, including two routines from Nia Dennis that each amassed over 11 million views just on X alone.ย
UCLA has finished the year ranked No. 1 in the nation on floor in three of Das' six seasons as Bruin coach (2025, 2023 and 2020), and the Bruins will enter the 2026 season having scored 49+ in a school record 52 consecutive meets. Das' floor squads have produced the school's fourth-ranked floor score of all-time (49.800 twice in 2025 and once in 2020), the Big Ten's highest floor score ever in a conference meet (49.800 at the 2025 Big Ten Championships), and UCLA's highest-ever postseason floor score (49.7125 at the 2023 NCAA Semifinals).
"I am so excited to announce BJ's promotion to Associate Head Coach," said The R.C. Rothman UCLA Head Gymnastics Coach Janelle McDonald. "The dedication, passion and creativity that BJ brings to the gym each and every day helps instill a confidence and competitive belief in our student-athletes that can be seen and felt on and off the competition floor. She inspires us all to be authentically ourselves and to bring both art and joy into our process. This promotion is well-earned, and we are excited to see BJ continue impact our team and create more Bruin Magic in this role!"
Das first came to UCLA in 2020 as a volunteer assistant coach and has been an assistant coach since the 2023 season. In 2023, she was honored by the WCGA as the West Region Co-Assistant Coach of the Year. Also that season, the UCLA coaching staff was selected College Gym News' Coaching Staff of the Year. Prior to joining the UCLA staff, Das was the volunteer assistant coach and choreographer at the University of Utah in 2019, when the Utes ranked in the Top 5 in the nation on floor exercise.
As a professional dancer, Das has performed live with Beyoncé, P!nk and Usher and toured with Avril Lavigne. Her music video credits include Beyoncé's "Run the World (Girls)", Ariana Grande's "Baby I" and Justin Bieber/Nicki Minaj's "Beauty and a Beat". Das has also performed live at the 2019 Grammy Awards, the 2018 American Music Awards and on the "Ellen Show", "The Voice" and "Late Show with James Corden", among others. Additionally, she has choreographed for TV shows "GLOW", "Fresh Off the Boat" and "The Masked Singer", along with the Emmy Awards and Radio Disney Music Awards. She also served as an assistant choreographer for the Gold Over America Tour in 2021 and 2024. Her first Hollywood experience was as a gymnast on the movie "Stick It".ย
Das earned her Bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Washington in 2006. She competed on the Husky gymnastics team for two years.
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Players Mentioned
Jordan Chiles - 2025 Big Ten Championships Floor (10.0)
Thursday, September 04
Chae Campbell - 2025 NCAA Championship Floor (9.925)
Friday, August 15
Frida Esparza - 2025 NCAA Semifinal Bars (9.925)
Saturday, August 09
Frida Esparza - 2025 NCAA Semifinals Bars (9.925)
Saturday, August 09