Beaver Gymnastics Mourns the Loss of Dick Foxal
April 15, 2026 | Women's Gymnastics
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State gymnastics is mourning the passing of legendary assistant Coach, Dick Foxal.
Foxal, a five-time West Region Assistant Coach of the Year honoree, spent more than 20 years on staff and three decades at Oregon State.
During his tenure, Beaver gymnasts combined to earn 59 All-America honors – including 11 on the uneven bars, his primary area of coaching. The Beavers claimed four individual national titles on various events during his career.
He coached four gymnasts who scored a total of eight perfect 10s on the uneven bars, a list that includes Chari Knight (five times), Heather Bennett, Danae Phillips and Elizabeth Jillson; Jillson was one of five Beavers who combined to win seven total Pac-12 bars championships under his leadership.
A teacher and coach at Churchill High School, Foxal was named 1975 National High School Coach of the Year and his athletes combined to win 19 of 21 possible individual state titles under his guidance. He then went on to serve as the head men's gymnastics coach at the University of Washington before also coaching women's gymnastics at Montana State, eventually joining the staff at Oregon State in 1987.
Foxal is survived by his wife, Suzanne, two nephews, Ryan and Brandon Barnes, and five grand nieces and nephews.
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