Jordan Chiles celebrated former UCLA assistant coach Lacy Dagen’s birthday with a social media tribute. The two shared a successful bond throughout the gymnast's collegiate career.

While the two-time Olympian's UCLA exploits have come to an end, her appreciation for coaches has endured.

Chiles shared a glimpse of her bond with Dagen by posting an Instagram story on her birthday.

"Love you!!!!!" she wrote

The post shared by Chiles was originally uploaded by the UCLA gymnastics team with the caption, “Happy Birthday to the one and only Lacy Dagen!”

It was a reminder of the bond shared between Chiles and her former Bruins coach. Since arriving at UCLA as an assistant coach, Lacy Dagen has made a significant impact on the team and its prospects.

Dagen joined in August 2024, and in her second year as lead beam coach, UCLA’s No. 4 beam ranking led all events. The program hadn't reached this mark since 2016.

But her influence was immediate. In her first season, the team jumped from No. 9 to No.4. The program finished the year with a 96.9% hit routine rate and an average score of 49.000.

Under her guidance, Chiles matched her career high of 9.975 on the balance beam. The Olympian lauded Dagen's influence and the team's performance on the beam in January 2026.

“That was one of the best beam (rotations) I’ve seen for a very long time,” Chiles stated, as per the Daily Bruin. “We finally are figuring things out.”

Dagen has been noted for creating a casual yet hardworking environment. Coach Janelle McDonald has especially credited her for building a calm atmosphere, which helps students compete with confidence.

Endearingly referred to as "teammate," Dagen has elevated UCLA's beam potential. And Chiles has been a beneficiary.

In her last time competing at home on March 14, the UCLA star nailed her balance beam routine against Utah.

Dagen watched from the sidelines as Chiles finished first on balance beam and floor exercise and was second on vault and uneven bars. 

The Bruins had a great 2026 season, winning the Big Ten regular-season title and the NCAA Corvallis Regional. They also reached the semi-finals of the NCAA Championships.

While Dagen is building a coaching legacy at UCLA, Chiles seems keen on taking hers beyond the mat.

Chiles Teases LA 2028 and Wants a Legacy Like Beyoncé

With Chiles' collegiate career having concluded, questions remain about her participation at the 2028 Olympics. Set in Los Angeles, the 25-year-old may feel tempted to compete close to home.

When asked about the possibilities, Chiles candidly spoke about her possible participation.

“I think about it all the time,” she told NBC. “It’s really more about physically for me than it is mentally. So we’ll see what happens.”

The four-time NCAA gymnastics champion and New York Times best-selling author is also looking at the bigger picture. Building her influence away from the sport, she aims to imitate a few of her idols.

“I would love to leave a legacy like Beyoncé or Whitney Houston,” she stated. “But I want to leave a legacy outside of my sport."

While the gymnast is currently taking some well-earned rest, winning Olympic gold at home might accelerate her recovery.

Read more at the Gymnastics Digest!

Written by

Sebi Mehta

Edited by

Sijo Paul