Rita C. Rothman (second from right) with members of the 2011 UCLA Gymnastics team.
UCLA Athletics Receives Gift to Endow Head Gymnastics Coach Position
March 02, 2023 | Gymnastics
The UCLA Athletic Department is pleased to announce a major commitment from alumna Rita C. Rothman ('70) to establish The R.C. Rothman UCLA Head Gymnastics Coach Endowment in support of the head gymnastics coach's position. In honor of Rothman's gift, the position will now be known as The R.C. Rothman UCLA Head Gymnastics Coach.
Designed to make a major and ever-lasting positive impact on UCLA Gymnastics and the student-athlete experience, this pledge is part of UCLA's Women of Westwood initiative to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX.
"I would like to thank Rita Rothman for her generous support and contribution to our gymnastics program," said Janelle McDonald, The R.C. Rothman UCLA Head Gymnastics Coach. "Her commitment ensures that we will continue to provide our student-athletes with an elite experience while continuing to build on the tradition of excellence of this program. I am honored and grateful to be known as The R.C. Rothman UCLA Head Gymnastics Coach. Representing her family and their contributions to women's athletics at UCLA is a great honor."
Growing up in a family of Bruins, Rita's father Raymond C. Rothman ('43) had lettered in handball, so spirit and pride in UCLA Athletics was a Rothman family tradition. Raymond's all-encompassing passion for UCLA, combined with the enduring legacy of Coach John Wooden, inspired this gift.
"This contribution is a tribute to the UCLA gymnastics program's dedicated student-athletes and their inspirational coaches past, present and future," said Rita Rothman. "I began my volunteer and philanthropic involvement at UCLA in 1982 with the Bruin Gymsters which was the booster group for men's and women's gymnastics, serving as president for seven years. During those years, our men's program gained prominence, especially with 1984 Olympians Tim Daggett, Peter Vidmar and Mitch Gaylord under coaches Art Shurlock, Mako Sakamoto and Yefim Furman. As Title IX came into effect, the women's program garnered early recognition under coaches Jerry Tomlinson and Scott Bull, and then Valorie Kondos Field's extraordinary 37-year tenure hallmarked record-breaking meet attendance, seven NCAA championships and worldwide recognition. Preceded by Kondos' longtime assistant coach and former UCLA gymnast Chris Waller, recently-appointed Janelle McDonald now guides the team forward to ensure the program's traditions of excellence and success."
A dedicated alumna, volunteer and supporter, Rita Rothman's boundless commitment to UCLA has served the university for more than 40 years. A life member of the UCLA Alumni Association, she received the Alumni Association's Award for University Service in 2010.
Rothman received her undergraduate degree in art history with honors in 1970. Motivated by "going back to school without grades," she later became involved with the College of Letters and Science, serving on the Provost's Advisory Council, the Humanities Executive Council, the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies and the UCLA Center for Society and Genetics.
She is the founding Chair of the Academic Advancement Program Scholarships Council and the founding President of the UCLA Friends of Art History. To continue her father's lifelong interest in Cognitive Science, she established the Raymond C. Rothman Endowed Collection in the History of Cognitive Science in the UCLA Library.
Rothman has served on the UCLA Foundation Board of Trustees, two terms on the UCLA Foundation Board of Directors and co-chaired the Diversity Committee during her term on the Board of Governors. She was one of the founding members of Women and Philanthropy in 1994 and continues to sit on its board today. Her involvement has also included Gold Shield Alumnae and two terms as a member of the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame committee.
Rothman's leadership and generosity has reached numerous additional areas of the university including The Chancellor's Society, the UCLA College Fund, the Wooden Athletic Fund, the renovation of Yates Gym, the UCLA Athletic Performance Center, the UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center and the Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology (CASIT). Her broad-based involvement and advocacy over the last four decades continues to help shape the course of UCLA's present and future.
With this most recent significant gift, Rothman is encouraging fellow alumni, fans and friends of UCLA to support UCLA Athletics' female student-athletes through the Women of Westwood philanthropic initiative. Women of Westwood was created to enhance educational and athletic-related resources at UCLA in support of the next generation of female leaders.
"On behalf of UCLA, I would like to thank Rita for her generosity and support of our gymnastics program," said Martin Jarmond, UCLA's Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics. "We are proud to name the head gymnastics coach position after her and her father, both UCLA alums and longtime supporters. This financial commitment demonstrates the immense support our alumni have for our student-athletes and our Women of Westwood initiative, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX."
Women of Westwood aims to honor 50 years of comprehensive excellence from UCLA female student-athletes and coaches since the creation of Title IX in 1972. UCLA remains committed to empowering female student-athletes and coaches both past and present. The Women of Westwood fundraising initiative will allow for alumni, fans and friends of UCLA Athletics to share in that commitment and help build a sustainable future for the women's athletics programs at UCLA.
For more information on Women of Westwood or to support UCLA student-athletes and make a tax-deductible gift, contact the UCLA Athletics Development Office at 310-206-3302 or CLICK HERE.
Designed to make a major and ever-lasting positive impact on UCLA Gymnastics and the student-athlete experience, this pledge is part of UCLA's Women of Westwood initiative to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX.
"I would like to thank Rita Rothman for her generous support and contribution to our gymnastics program," said Janelle McDonald, The R.C. Rothman UCLA Head Gymnastics Coach. "Her commitment ensures that we will continue to provide our student-athletes with an elite experience while continuing to build on the tradition of excellence of this program. I am honored and grateful to be known as The R.C. Rothman UCLA Head Gymnastics Coach. Representing her family and their contributions to women's athletics at UCLA is a great honor."
Growing up in a family of Bruins, Rita's father Raymond C. Rothman ('43) had lettered in handball, so spirit and pride in UCLA Athletics was a Rothman family tradition. Raymond's all-encompassing passion for UCLA, combined with the enduring legacy of Coach John Wooden, inspired this gift.
"This contribution is a tribute to the UCLA gymnastics program's dedicated student-athletes and their inspirational coaches past, present and future," said Rita Rothman. "I began my volunteer and philanthropic involvement at UCLA in 1982 with the Bruin Gymsters which was the booster group for men's and women's gymnastics, serving as president for seven years. During those years, our men's program gained prominence, especially with 1984 Olympians Tim Daggett, Peter Vidmar and Mitch Gaylord under coaches Art Shurlock, Mako Sakamoto and Yefim Furman. As Title IX came into effect, the women's program garnered early recognition under coaches Jerry Tomlinson and Scott Bull, and then Valorie Kondos Field's extraordinary 37-year tenure hallmarked record-breaking meet attendance, seven NCAA championships and worldwide recognition. Preceded by Kondos' longtime assistant coach and former UCLA gymnast Chris Waller, recently-appointed Janelle McDonald now guides the team forward to ensure the program's traditions of excellence and success."
A dedicated alumna, volunteer and supporter, Rita Rothman's boundless commitment to UCLA has served the university for more than 40 years. A life member of the UCLA Alumni Association, she received the Alumni Association's Award for University Service in 2010.
Rothman received her undergraduate degree in art history with honors in 1970. Motivated by "going back to school without grades," she later became involved with the College of Letters and Science, serving on the Provost's Advisory Council, the Humanities Executive Council, the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies and the UCLA Center for Society and Genetics.
She is the founding Chair of the Academic Advancement Program Scholarships Council and the founding President of the UCLA Friends of Art History. To continue her father's lifelong interest in Cognitive Science, she established the Raymond C. Rothman Endowed Collection in the History of Cognitive Science in the UCLA Library.
Rothman has served on the UCLA Foundation Board of Trustees, two terms on the UCLA Foundation Board of Directors and co-chaired the Diversity Committee during her term on the Board of Governors. She was one of the founding members of Women and Philanthropy in 1994 and continues to sit on its board today. Her involvement has also included Gold Shield Alumnae and two terms as a member of the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame committee.
Rothman's leadership and generosity has reached numerous additional areas of the university including The Chancellor's Society, the UCLA College Fund, the Wooden Athletic Fund, the renovation of Yates Gym, the UCLA Athletic Performance Center, the UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center and the Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology (CASIT). Her broad-based involvement and advocacy over the last four decades continues to help shape the course of UCLA's present and future.
With this most recent significant gift, Rothman is encouraging fellow alumni, fans and friends of UCLA to support UCLA Athletics' female student-athletes through the Women of Westwood philanthropic initiative. Women of Westwood was created to enhance educational and athletic-related resources at UCLA in support of the next generation of female leaders.
"On behalf of UCLA, I would like to thank Rita for her generosity and support of our gymnastics program," said Martin Jarmond, UCLA's Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics. "We are proud to name the head gymnastics coach position after her and her father, both UCLA alums and longtime supporters. This financial commitment demonstrates the immense support our alumni have for our student-athletes and our Women of Westwood initiative, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX."
Women of Westwood aims to honor 50 years of comprehensive excellence from UCLA female student-athletes and coaches since the creation of Title IX in 1972. UCLA remains committed to empowering female student-athletes and coaches both past and present. The Women of Westwood fundraising initiative will allow for alumni, fans and friends of UCLA Athletics to share in that commitment and help build a sustainable future for the women's athletics programs at UCLA.
For more information on Women of Westwood or to support UCLA student-athletes and make a tax-deductible gift, contact the UCLA Athletics Development Office at 310-206-3302 or CLICK HERE.