As determined as she is tough, D-D Breaux has led the LSU gymnastics team for 27 years.
In her 27 seasons, Breaux has compiled a 444-274-7 overall record including 310-170-5 in the regular season and 134-104-2 in the postseason.
LSU’s highest national finish under Breaux is fourth in 1988. The Tigers have also won six regionals (1978, 1979, 1980, 1986, 2002 and 2004) and one Southeastern Conference championship (1981) under Breaux. She was SEC Coach of the Year in 1993, 1994, 1995, and 2000 as well as NCAA Central Regional Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2002.
With all those accomplishments, Breaux has repeatedly said she believes this year’s team is the best she has seen in the time she has been coaching.
“I believe it because I think that they’ve proven it by putting together a string of 197s like no other team has, not only at LSU but in the country,” Breaux said. “This team has been very consistent this season at a very high level.”
Breaux said she will coach at LSU for as long as she enjoys the job.
“As long as I’m still enjoying it, as long as it’s fun, as long as it’s a challenge,” Breaux said. “I still enjoy my job. I still like what I do. I’ve got a great staff and I think that’s been the key to our success the last three years is the continuity and cohesiveness of this staff.
“I can’t say that if we win the national championship in the next couple of years that I wouldn’t want to do something else, but right now I’m really enjoying what I’m doing.”
Junior gymnast Jade Jenkins said Breaux wants the team to do its best.
“[D-D] wants us to succeed very badly and she wants us to want it,” Jenkins said. “I think that D-D is a very tough coach.”
Junior gymnast Lauren Companioni said Breaux is focused.
“[D-D]’s very determined and very motivated, but I think she’s had a dream, a goal of going to the Super Six the 27 years she’s been here and she’s done, in her mind, whatever it takes to have a chance at that goal,” Companioni said. “I think that this year we have as good a chance as any of making it. She’s definitely the most determined and goal-oriented person that I think I have ever met. She sets a goal and nothing else matters. She’s going to do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.”
Sophomore gymnast April Burkholder said Breaux is goal-oriented.
“[D-D]’s real determined,” Burkholder said. “She’s always motivated and keeps us positive. Right before our meets she gives us that boost of confidence and helps us go out there and do our job. She pretty much regulates things.”
Breaux said even though she has the longest tenure of any University coach, she is not the one people look up to.
“I think everybody here looks up to Skip [Bertman],” Breaux said. “I think everybody looks up to Nick Saban. I think the work ethic that’s established at the highest level by sports like football and the level of expectations there, I think that’s where you look, that’s what you focus on, that’s what you follow and try to reach that level of excellence.”