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'{{Infobox college coach | name = Valorie Kondos Field | image = Https://officialmissval.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/VKF avatar.png | alt = | caption = | current_record = | contract = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|8|20|mf=y}} | birth_place = [[Sacramento, California]], U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = [[University of California, Los Angeles]] | coach_years1 = 1983–1990 | coach_team1 = [[UCLA Bruins gymnastics|UCLA]] (Asst.) | coach_years2 = 1991–2019 | coach_team2 = UCLA | overall_record = | bowl_record = | tournament_record = | championships = [[NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships|NCAA national championship]] (1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2010, 2018)<br>[[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-12]] championship (1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2019) | awards = NACGC/W National Coach of the Year (1996, 1997, 2000, 2001)<br>Pac-12 Coach of the Year (1995, 2000, 2003, 2012) Pac-12 Coach of the century | coaching_records = }} '''Valorie Kondos Field''' (born '''Valorie Kondos'''; August 20, 1959), often referred to as '''Miss Val''', is a retired American gymnastics coach. She was the head coach of the [[UCLA Bruins women's gymnastics|UCLA Bruins gymnastics]] team of the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] (UCLA) from 1991 to 2019, leading the Bruins to seven national championship titles. She is a four-time Conference Coach of the Year, the 2018 West Region Head Coach of the Year, and the Pac-12 Gymnastics Coach of the Century.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Valorie Kondos Field - Gymnastics Coach|url=https://uclabruins.com/sports/womens-gymnastics/roster/coaches/valorie-kondos-field/818|access-date=2020-08-25|website=UCLA|language=en}}</ref> She is the third most-winning NCAA gymnastics coach, behind Suzanne Yoculan and Greg Marsden.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2019-04-16|title=UCLA gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field's storied (and unconventional) career comes to an end|url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/article/26524115/ucla-gymnastics-coach-valorie-kondos-field-storied-unconventional-career-comes-end|access-date=2020-08-25|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}</ref> == Early life == Kondos Field grew up in Sacramento, California. Kondos Field was a professional ballet dancer at [[Sacramento Ballet]], Capital City Ballet, and Washington Ballet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://alumniday.ucla.edu/2012/schedule/panels/valorie.aspx |title=Power Panelist |publisher=Alumniday.ucla.edu |date= |accessdate=2014-08-01}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> In 1982, at age twenty-two, she retired from dancing to attend the [[University of California, Los Angeles]].<ref name=":1" /> In 1983, she became an assistant coach and choreographer for the [[UCLA Bruins women's gymnastics|UCLA Bruins gymnastics]] team. She graduated from UCLA in 1987 with a degree in history.<ref name=":0" /> Kondos Field is also an accomplished pianist, and director and producer of live shows. == Professional career == Kondos Field was appointed head coach of the UCLA Bruins gymnastics team in 1991. In 1997, the team won their first national NCAA championship title, she was the fourth coach in NCAA Gymnastics history to win a championship. The team won again in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2010 and 2018, for a total of seven wins under Kondos Field's leadership. Additionally, the team won nineteen Pac-12 championships, the first in 1993 and the last in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UCLA Wins 19th Pac-12 Gymnastics Championship|url=http://uclabruins.com/news/2019/3/24/ucla-wins-19th-pac-12-gymnastics-championship.aspx|access-date=2019-03-31|website=UCLA|language=en}}</ref> and 16 NCAA Regional titles. In 2010, Kondos Field was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame<ref>{{Cite web|title=UCLA Announces Eight New Athletics Hall of Fame Selections|url=https://uclabruins.com/news/2010/5/14/207896548|access-date=2020-12-29|website=UCLA|language=en}}</ref>. She is known as one of the premier balance beam and floor exercise choreographers. She has choreographed 16 NCAA Championship beam and floor routines. She also earned the choreographer of the year award at the Canadian National Championships for choreographing Kate Richardson’s floor and beam routines. She was voted NCAA Coach of the Year 4 times by her peers and in 2016 was voted the coach of the century<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pac-12 All-Century Women's Gymnastics team announced {{!}} Pac-12|url=https://pac-12.com/article/2016/02/02/pac-12-all-century-womens-gymnastics-team-announced|access-date=2020-12-29|website=pac-12.com|language=en}}</ref> by the PAC12 Conference. In 2003, Kondos Field dismissed [[Alyssa Beckerman]] from the UCLA gymnastics team. Kondos Field claimed this was due to Beckerman's "subpar training and lack of enthusiasm," which Beckerman disputed. Although Beckerman had been injured, she was a two-time national champion as a member of the Bruins.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gymnastics: Beckerman questions dismissal|url=https://dailybruin.com/2003/10/06/gymnastics-beckerman-questions/|access-date=2020-08-25|website=Daily Bruin}}</ref> On September 20, 2018, she announced her retirement as the head coach of the Bruins gymnastics team,<ref>https://twitter.com/OfficialMissVal/status/1042775912591187968</ref> with her final meet on April 20, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Valorie Kondos Field's last dance with UCLA gymnastics ends with third place in NCAA championship {{!}} NCAA.com|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/gymnastics-women/article/2019-04-21/valorie-kondos-fields-last-dance-ucla-gymnastics-ends|access-date=2019-04-21|website=www.ncaa.com|language=en}}</ref> Along with coaching at UCLA, Kondos Field worked as a freelance choreographer and director with the entertainment department at SeaWorld, San Diego for 30 years helping them create their summer shows. Two of her shows, Riptide and Cirque De La Mer won the IAAPA<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kondos Field's Riptide Show Wins National Honors|url=https://uclabruins.com/news/2007/11/16/207895505.aspx|access-date=2020-12-29|website=UCLA|language=en}}</ref>, which is an international award for theme park shows. In the summer of 1991, Kondos Field also choreographed a summer acrobatic festival held in Lennestadt, Germany. Kondos Field continues to work with gymnastics clubs all over the world as a consultant, helping them with their mental preparation as well as consulting on choreography. She is a highly sought after speaker, and mentor. == Publications == Kondos Field's book ''Life is Short, Don't Wait to Dance'' was published by Hachette Book Group in October 2018. The book is an autobiography that contains self-help and leadership advice based on Kondos Field's experiences as a gymnastics coach.<ref>https://www.amazon.com/Life-Short-Dont-Wait-Dance/dp/1546077146</ref> == Controversies == Kondos Field dismissed [[Alyssa Beckerman]] from the UCLA gymnastics team in 2003. Kondos Field claimed this was due to Beckerman's "subpar training and lack of enthusiasm," which Beckerman disputed. Although Beckerman had been injured, she was a two-time national champion as a member of the Bruins.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gymnastics: Beckerman questions dismissal|url=https://dailybruin.com/2003/10/06/gymnastics-beckerman-questions/|access-date=2020-08-25|website=Daily Bruin}}</ref> == Personal life == Kondos Field is married to retired UCLA Senior Associate Athletic Director and former football coach, Bobby Field.<ref name=":2">http://www.uclabruins.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30500&ATCLID=207914419</ref> In May 2014, Kondos Field was diagnosed with [[breast cancer]], but is now cancer-free. She opened up about this on a February 2016 edition of UCLA Bruins gymnastics' [[YouTube]] online web series ''Bruin Banter'', hosted by [[Danusia Francis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMO61PYkfi0|title=Bruin Banter 2016 - Episode 6, Part 1: Valorie Kondos Field - YouTube|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> Kondos Field is [[Greek Americans|Greek-American]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://usa.greekreporter.com/2019/01/17/miss-val-the-legendary-greek-american-coach-of-the-ucla-gymnastics-team/|title=The Legendary Greek-American Coach of the UCLA Gymnastics Team |website= USA.GreekReporter.com|first=Kerry|last=Kolasa-Sikiaridi|date=January 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenationalherald.com/archive_whats_new/arthro/hall_of_fame_gymnastics_coach_valorie_kondos_field_leads_ucla_women_steam_to_national_championships-4356/|title=Hall of Fame Gymnastics Coach Valorie Kondos Field Leads UCLA Women's Team to National Championships|website=The National Herald}}</ref><ref>https://twitter.com/OfficialMissVal/status/1122545736510390277</ref> == In popular culture == Kondos Field was portrayed by [[Jennifer Beals]] in the 2015 film ''[[Full Out]]'' about former [[UCLA Bruins|UCLA Bruin]] gymnast [[Ariana Berlin]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3977462/|title=Full Out|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Field, Valorie Kondos}} [[Category:1959 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American people of Greek descent]] [[Category:UCLA Bruins women's gymnastics coaches]] [[Category:People from Sacramento, California]] [[Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni]]'