NCAA championships mark end for retiring UCLA gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field
LOS ANGELES - Dressed in flowing black slacks and a shimmery black shirt, she danced, clapping and bouncing to the beat. She clasped hands with people in the seats above her, compelling them to join in as "Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake blared overhead.
Soon, whole sections of the arena moved with her.
The start of an NCAA regional semifinal gymnastics meet was moments away, and No. 2-ranked UCLA was in Ann Arbor, Mich. But its coach looked right at home.
Just off center stage. Dancing. Smiling. Connecting with the music and the people around her.
Per usual, Valorie Kondos Field seemed carefree - at a time she had every reason to be feeling pressure.
UCLA was about to take another important step toward defending the national title it won last season, and the Bruins wanted to send their coach out with another championship. Kondos Field, whose teams have won seven national titles in her 29 years at the helm, is retiring after this season.
Coaches, like athletes, rarely go out on top. But Kondos Field, 59, appears to be the exception. UCLA has been dominant all season - her gymnasts have 21 perfect scores of 10, more than double that of any other college team - and her pending departure has raised the stakes
