Grables depart from UCLA gymnastics, Kyle off to Iowa
Pictured left to right, former UCLA gymnastics assistant coaches Autumn and Kyle Grable in Pauley Pavilion. The pair have left UCLA’s coaching staff, confirmed Friday by a UCLA athletics spokesperson. (Left to right: Megan Cai/Daily Bruin senior staff, Nicolas Greamo/Daily Bruin senior staff)
By Aaron Doyle
July 26, 2024 12:39 p.m.
UCLA gymnastics might look unrecognizable in 2025.
For the second time in three years, UCLA’s coaching staff will experience significant turnover.
Assistant coaches Kyle and Autumn Grable have departed from the program, a UCLA athletics spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Bruin. Kyle will head to Iowa – UCLA’s future Big Ten competitor – as an assistant coach, while Autumn’s next step has yet to be announced.
During the duo’s two-season tenure at UCLA, the Grables led the Bruins to an NCAA national championship berth and two individual NCAA titles.
In just their first season coaching at the NCAA level, the Grables were honored as WCGA Co-Assistant Coaches of the Year in the West Region after helping lead the Bruins back to the national championships for the first time in four years. With the help of the Grables, UCLA shot its national ranking up to No. 5 – seven placements higher than in 2022.
Kyle, the Bruins’ vault coach, transformed the event from a weakness to one of their top events. He helped Selena Harris score three perfect 10s on vault in 2024, finishing the season tied for first nationally. UCLA finished the 2024 season ranked No. 8 on vault, a three-placement improvement from 2023.
Autumn served as the Bruins’ beam coach during her time at UCLA. In her first year, Autumn led the Bruins to a top-five finish on the event during her first season with the team. Like her partner, she led Harris to two perfect scores on beam in her career.
Before their arrival at UCLA, the Grables coached at the club level, serving as co-head coaches of elite development at Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center in Indianapolis. There, they coached multiple developmental national champions and Nastia Liukin Cup qualifiers – some of the most prestigious accolades at the club level.
The aftermath of the 2024 season has been full of losses for UCLA. Freshman standout Alex Irvine was the first to depart from Westwood, eventually announcing her commitment to Auburn exactly a month later.
The biggest deficit will come from the departure of Harris, who was dismissed from the team in May. The Pac-12 Gymnast of the Year started packing her bags for the SEC when she announced her commitment to Florida 10 days later.
The Grables’ replacements still remain in question. UCLA will be in search of its next two assistant coaches, joining an experienced coaching staff in Janelle McDonald and BJ Das for the 2025 season.
