UCLA Gymnastics Welcomes Freeman, Dagen to Coaching Staff
August 20, 2024 | Gymnastics
Mark Freeman and Lacy Dagen will join the UCLA Gymnastics coaching staff, The R.C. Rothman UCLA Head Gymnastics Coach Janelle McDonald announced on Tuesday.
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Freeman joins the Bruins after serving as an assistant coach for the four-time defending NCAA champion Stanford men's gymnastics team. A four-time West Region Assistant Coach of the Year and a member of five National Coaching Staffs of the Year, Freeman coached two members of USA Gymnastics' 2024 Olympic bronze-medal winning team (Brody Malone and Asher Hong) and one team member (Malone) and two alternates (Akash Modi and Brandon Briones) at the 2020 Olympics. Freeman has produced a long list of All-Americans who have totaled 76 All-American honors in his five-year tenure at Stanford. Prior to his time at Stanford, he was an assistant coach for the men's team at the University of California from 2017-19. Freeman is the owner of SB Gymnastics and CEO and founder of Freeman Technique, a fitness and movement consultancy.
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A member of Great Britain's Senior National Team from 2001-04, Freeman competed at the World Championships in 2002 and 2003. As a Junior National Team member, he became the first-ever British competitors to win a gold medal in a major competition, taking the Junior European title on rings in 2002. Freeman went on to compete for the California Golden Bears from 2004-08, leading his team to three Top 5 NCAA finishes and one MPSF conference title. After earning his degree in Sociology in 2008, he continued his gymnastics journey by performing, touring and creating for Cirque du Soleil for five years.
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"I am beyond excited and honored to be joining UCLA Women's Gymnastics," said Freeman. "The legacy and reputation of this iconic program speaks for itself. To be associated with it is truly humbling. I am eager to contribute, to help our team develop and grow, and to assist the Bruins in achieving success."
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"I've had the privilege of knowing Mark since 2018, when our paths crossed during our time coaching at UC Berkeley," McDonald said. "Mark is an incredible technician with a strong passion for gymnastics and mentoring student-athletes. He brings a unique and experienced skill-set to the team. It was obvious from our first conversation through this process that our vision for culture and team was aligned and that he would be an incredible addition to our coaching staff."ย
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Dagen comes to UCLA from Arizona State, where she was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. She helped guide the Sun Devils to the NCAA Regional Final and a No. 16 national finish in 2024. The Sun Devils' beam coach, Dagen helped coach the team to a record-breaking 11 consecutive 49.0+ meets, including a 49.550 score that was its highest since 2007 and ranks as No. 6 all-time at ASU. Dagen had previous coaching stops at Oregon State in 2023 and UC Davis in 2022. At Oregon State, she helped the Beavers win a share of the Pac-12 regular season title and advance to the NCAA Regional Final, with a No. 12 national finish. The team ended the year with 12-straight scores of 197+, including a program record 198.075. At UC Davis, Dagen helped kick-start a record year for the Aggies, who set program bests that season for overall team score, away team score and team vault total. Dagen has coached two conference gymnasts of the year โ Oregon State's Jade Carey and UC Davis' Kyla Kessler.
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A native of Pleasanton, Calif., Dagen was a member of the University of Florida team from 2016-17 before transferring to Oregon State from 2018-21. At Oregon State, she earned all-conference honoree on vault and received three of her four career Scholastic All-America honors. Dagen received her bachelor's degree in sociology and innovation management in 2020. She also earned a master's degree in kinesiology from Oregon State in 2022, developing an injury prevention program tailored to NCAA gymnastics that she then implanted into daily practices as a coach.
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"I'm thrilled to join UCLA's legendary program and want to extend a huge thank you to Janelle for this incredible opportunity," said Dagen. "I look forward to proudly wearing the blue and gold back in my home state, helping an exceptional group of student-athletes accomplish their goals both in the classroom and out on the competition floor, and contributing to the legacy that is UCLA Gymnastics."
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"Lacy has a joyful spirit and love for both gymnastics and coaching that will bring an exciting energy to our team," McDonald stated. "She has an inspiring story through her journey as a student-athlete, and those experiences will offer great insight and support for our student-athletes. With Lacy's mom being a UCLA alumna, she is already a natural fit within our Bruin family!"
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Freeman and Dagen will complete McDonald's coaching staff that also includes BJ Das, who will be entering her sixth year on staff at UCLA.
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"With Mark and Lacy on board and preseason right around the corner, I cannot wait to get started," said McDonald. "Our team is inspired and determined to make the 2025 season a special one!"
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Freeman joins the Bruins after serving as an assistant coach for the four-time defending NCAA champion Stanford men's gymnastics team. A four-time West Region Assistant Coach of the Year and a member of five National Coaching Staffs of the Year, Freeman coached two members of USA Gymnastics' 2024 Olympic bronze-medal winning team (Brody Malone and Asher Hong) and one team member (Malone) and two alternates (Akash Modi and Brandon Briones) at the 2020 Olympics. Freeman has produced a long list of All-Americans who have totaled 76 All-American honors in his five-year tenure at Stanford. Prior to his time at Stanford, he was an assistant coach for the men's team at the University of California from 2017-19. Freeman is the owner of SB Gymnastics and CEO and founder of Freeman Technique, a fitness and movement consultancy.
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A member of Great Britain's Senior National Team from 2001-04, Freeman competed at the World Championships in 2002 and 2003. As a Junior National Team member, he became the first-ever British competitors to win a gold medal in a major competition, taking the Junior European title on rings in 2002. Freeman went on to compete for the California Golden Bears from 2004-08, leading his team to three Top 5 NCAA finishes and one MPSF conference title. After earning his degree in Sociology in 2008, he continued his gymnastics journey by performing, touring and creating for Cirque du Soleil for five years.
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"I am beyond excited and honored to be joining UCLA Women's Gymnastics," said Freeman. "The legacy and reputation of this iconic program speaks for itself. To be associated with it is truly humbling. I am eager to contribute, to help our team develop and grow, and to assist the Bruins in achieving success."
ย
"I've had the privilege of knowing Mark since 2018, when our paths crossed during our time coaching at UC Berkeley," McDonald said. "Mark is an incredible technician with a strong passion for gymnastics and mentoring student-athletes. He brings a unique and experienced skill-set to the team. It was obvious from our first conversation through this process that our vision for culture and team was aligned and that he would be an incredible addition to our coaching staff."ย
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Dagen comes to UCLA from Arizona State, where she was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. She helped guide the Sun Devils to the NCAA Regional Final and a No. 16 national finish in 2024. The Sun Devils' beam coach, Dagen helped coach the team to a record-breaking 11 consecutive 49.0+ meets, including a 49.550 score that was its highest since 2007 and ranks as No. 6 all-time at ASU. Dagen had previous coaching stops at Oregon State in 2023 and UC Davis in 2022. At Oregon State, she helped the Beavers win a share of the Pac-12 regular season title and advance to the NCAA Regional Final, with a No. 12 national finish. The team ended the year with 12-straight scores of 197+, including a program record 198.075. At UC Davis, Dagen helped kick-start a record year for the Aggies, who set program bests that season for overall team score, away team score and team vault total. Dagen has coached two conference gymnasts of the year โ Oregon State's Jade Carey and UC Davis' Kyla Kessler.
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A native of Pleasanton, Calif., Dagen was a member of the University of Florida team from 2016-17 before transferring to Oregon State from 2018-21. At Oregon State, she earned all-conference honoree on vault and received three of her four career Scholastic All-America honors. Dagen received her bachelor's degree in sociology and innovation management in 2020. She also earned a master's degree in kinesiology from Oregon State in 2022, developing an injury prevention program tailored to NCAA gymnastics that she then implanted into daily practices as a coach.
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"I'm thrilled to join UCLA's legendary program and want to extend a huge thank you to Janelle for this incredible opportunity," said Dagen. "I look forward to proudly wearing the blue and gold back in my home state, helping an exceptional group of student-athletes accomplish their goals both in the classroom and out on the competition floor, and contributing to the legacy that is UCLA Gymnastics."
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"Lacy has a joyful spirit and love for both gymnastics and coaching that will bring an exciting energy to our team," McDonald stated. "She has an inspiring story through her journey as a student-athlete, and those experiences will offer great insight and support for our student-athletes. With Lacy's mom being a UCLA alumna, she is already a natural fit within our Bruin family!"
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Freeman and Dagen will complete McDonald's coaching staff that also includes BJ Das, who will be entering her sixth year on staff at UCLA.
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"With Mark and Lacy on board and preseason right around the corner, I cannot wait to get started," said McDonald. "Our team is inspired and determined to make the 2025 season a special one!"
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