Mizzou gymnastics adds decorated assistant coach to its staff

Mizzou gymnastics has added former Georgia assistant Oleksii Koltakov to its staff, the team announced Wednesday.

Koltakov comes in after two seasons with the GymDogs, helping them get to the national semifinals in 2026. The GymDogs ranked in the top five in both vault and floor, both events in which Koltakov specializes.

“He brings a unique combination of technical expertise, SEC experience and an international competitive background that will be a tremendous asset to our program,” Mizzou coach Shannon Welker said in a statement.

Koltakov served as an assistant for Nebraska in 2023 and 2024, aiding the Cornhuskers to their first NCAA regional berth in five seasons. Koltakov was recognized as a Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association Co-Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in 2023.

He was also a volunteer assistant for Alabama in 2021 and 2022. The Crimson Tide won the SEC Championship in 2021 and made the national semifinals in both the ’21 and ’22 seasons.

Prior to his coaching career, Koltakov helped lead the Ukrainian national team to a finals appearance in the 2009 European Championships as well as the 2009 and 2011 World Cup. Koltakov is a native of Ukraine.

“Oleksii has shown the ability to help student-athletes develop and compete at the highest level, and his passion for coaching fits well with the culture we continue to build here in Columbia,” Welker said.

Koltakov adds to an already-strong coaching staff as the Tigers look to build off the momentum of their previous two seasons.