JT Okada, who has been on staff with the California men's gymnastics team for the past 13 years, has resigned his position as head coach to accept a role within the Cal Athletics compliance office. Okada's last meet in his current position will be on Feb. 28, which will also be the team's Senior Day at Haas Pavilion.
 
"I'm extremely grateful for men's gymnastics, for the team, for all of the experiences and the administrative support that we've received throughout the years," Okada said. "Throughout my entire coaching tenure, there's been so much support, both internally and from the wider gymnastics community. I just have a ton of gratitude for all of that. Now, I look forward to this new opportunity and to spending more time with my wife and daughter."
 
Okada first joined the Cal men's gymnastics program prior to the 2013 season as an assistant coach, helping lead the Bears to many successful seasons (including a fifth-place finish at the 2015 NCAA Championships) before ascending to the head coach position in May 2017. Under his leadership, Cal reached the NCAA Championships in every season it was held (it was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Okada's last full season was his most accomplished yet as head coach as the Bears posted their highest team finish at the NCAA Championships since 2015 with their best score of the year, advancing 10 individuals to the Final.
 
Throughout his tenure, Okada has overseen the development of nine All-Americans with 18 total honors, including a 2015 runner-up finish on vault for Kevin Wolting. Two of his gymnasts have also earned a total of three regular-season All-American nods since the award was introduced in 2023, while three – Donothan Bailey (2014), Wolting (2016) and Noah Newfeld (2024) – were finalists for the prestigious Nissen Emery Award, presented each year to the nation's top male collegiate gymnast. Newfeld was also the program's first CGA Rookie of the Year, earning recognition in 2021.
 
Two of Okada's gymnasts – Ryan Patterson (South Africa) and Yordan Aleksandrov (Bulgaria) – have gone on to represent their respective nations at the highest levels. Okada acted as Patterson's personal coach at the 2014 and 2015 World Championships, then at the 2016 Olympic Games as the head coach of the South African National Team. Aleksandrov, meanwhile, has competed at nine World Championships, including two (2015, 17) during his time at Cal. Okada has also coached U.S. National Team members Wolting and Bailey, both at Cal and as a member of the U.S. National Team coaching staff, as well as Canadian National Team members Aaron Mah and Darren Wong.
 
A strong proponent of scholastic excellence in his gymnasts, Okada helped cultivate a studious culture among his teams, which have posted steady increases in the number of yearly academic recognitions. His 2022 squad posted the highest overall GPA of any men's small team at Cal and was subsequently presented with the prestigious Newmark Award to honor that achievement. Throughout Okada's tenure as head coach, his athletes have collected 62 CGA Academic All-America honors and 58 MPSF All-Academic nods, as well as a pair of College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America awards and an Academic All-District recognition. Okada has also overseen several prolific fundraising efforts for the program, having been a member of the staff that founded the annual Cal Benefit Cup and continuing that tradition each year afterward while also hosting alumni reunions and building donor relations.
 
"We are thankful for JT's contributions to our men's gymnastics program and are excited he will remain part of our Cal Family as he transitions into an important role in our compliance office," Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton said. "As a Cal alum himself, JT has a keen understanding of our mission and passed that on to his student-athletes. While I know this was a difficult decision for JT, I'm excited for what the future holds for himself and his family."
 
Following Okada's departure, associate head coach Bryan Del Castillo will act as the Bears' interim head coach.
 
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