Armando Jose VEGA

Armando Vega grew up in Los Angeles and competed for the Los Angeles Turners, but he attended college at Penn State University. At Penn State he won six NCAA titles, including twice in the All-Around, in 1957 and 1959. In AAU Championships, Vega won 11 titles between 1957 and 1964, adding 7 silver and 7 bronze medals. He later entered coaching, starting with the Mexican national team in preparation for the 1968 Olympics. He coached college first at Northwestern State University in Louisiana, and later at LSU. Vega coached LSU to 12 consecutive league titles and was NCAA Coach of the Year in 1977 and 1978. He later became engaged in land management, sales, and operations in Panama. He was inducted into the US Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1979.