Chris Waller felt it Thursday morning, when he led practice with the UCLA gymnastics team for the first time as head coach. It was visible in the energy of the gymnasts, and their excitement ...

Waller won either an NCAA individual title or U.S. title ever year from 1989 to 1993, specializing on pummel horse and high bar, and was a staple of the U.S. men's national team throughout the 90s.

Chris Waller became head coach of the UCLA gymnastics team after 17 years as a top assistant to former coach Valorie Kondos Field. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) By Thuc Nhi Nguyen.

Chris Waller looked poised to continue UCLA gymnastics' legacy of success when he became head coach in 2019. It hasn't all gone according to plan.