Welker Adds Oleksii Koltakov as Gymnastics Assistant Coach
6/3/2026 3:00:00 PM | Gymnastics
Koltakov joins Mizzou’s staff after leading Georgia to its first NCAA Championship Semifinal appearance since 2019.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou gymnastics head coach Shannon Welker has added Oleksii Koltakov to his staff as assistant coach, the program announced Wednesday.
The Ukrainian native joins the Tigers after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at Georgia. Koltakov also served as an assistant coach at Nebraska during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, earning 2023 Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Co-Regional Assistant Coach of the Year honors.
He previously spent two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at Alabama, helping the Crimson Tide win the 2021 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship and advance to the NCAA Championship Semifinals in 2021 and 2022.
"We are excited to welcome Oleksii to Mizzou," Welker said. "He brings a unique combination of technical expertise, SEC experience and an international competitive background that will be a tremendous asset to our program. 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."
During Koltakov's time in Athens, Georgia made significant strides, advancing to the NCAA Championship final site in Fort Worth, Texas, and finishing the 2026 season sixth nationally. Five GymDogs combined for seven NCAA All-America honors at the NCAA Championship Semifinal, four earned WCGA Regular Season All-America accolades and nine were named to the All-SEC Team.
Georgia completed the 2026 season with a 24-11 overall record, improving its win total by 18 victories from Koltakov's first year on staff. The GymDogs also went 5-3 in SEC competition, tying for third in the league, and totaled 18 wins over top-25 opponents. Georgia concluded the regular season with a 197.391 National Qualifying Score, ranking sixth nationally, marking the program's best national finish since 2014 and its best NQS since 2008. The program also set a program record with 15 scores of 197.000 or better, surpassing the previous mark of eight.
In 2025, Georgia recorded six consecutive meet totals of 197.000 or higher, including a 197.975 against Oklahoma, the program's best regular-season score since 2009. The GymDogs also secured a national seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, ranking 10th entering regionals. Lily Smith and Ady Wahl individually qualified for nationals on floor and vault, respectively, and earned First Team All-America honors. Smith finished fifth nationally on floor and earned WCGA Regular Season All-America status. She also received All-SEC honors, while Nyla Aquino was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.
Prior to his time in Athens, Koltakov spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Nebraska. In 2024, he helped lead the Huskers to their second consecutive NCAA postseason appearance. Nebraska closed the regular season with three straight scores of 197.000 or higher, while Huskers gymnasts combined for 36 event titles.
In his first season with Nebraska, Koltakov helped the Huskers earn an NCAA Regional berth and post their best team score in five seasons. He coached three gymnasts to All-Conference honors, while Emma Spence was named Co-Regional Gymnast of the Year. Koltakov was also recognized as the 2023 WCGA Co-Regional Assistant Coach of the Year.
Before Nebraska, Koltakov served as a volunteer assistant coach at Alabama during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He helped the Crimson Tide capture the 2021 SEC Championship and finish fifth at the NCAA Championships. In 2022, Alabama placed second at the SEC Championships and advanced to the NCAA Finals.
Koltakov began his collegiate coaching career after working in club gymnastics in Austin, Texas, and serving as a High Performance coach at camps and clinics throughout the United States. He began coaching internationally in 2013 at the Piddubny Olympic College in Ukraine and with the Azerbaijan Gymnastics Federation.
A former member of the Ukraine National Team, Koltakov competed at the 2009 European Championships in Milano, Italy, and the 2009 World Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic, where Ukraine reached the finals. He also helped lead Ukraine to the finals of the 2011 World Cup in Stuttgart, Germany.
Koltakov was a five-time Ukrainian pommel horse champion from 2008-12 and the 2011 Ukrainian floor exercise champion. He also helped lead his team to Ukrainian Championships in 2009 and 2011.
In addition to his coaching and competitive background, Koltakov performed as a high bar catcher in Cirque du Soleil's show Alegria.
Koltakov is a two-time graduate of the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine. He earned his bachelor's degree in coaching and physical education in 2009 before completing a master's degree in biomechanics of sport with a specialization in Olympic and professional sports.
Koltakov is married to British Olympic gymnast Marissa King. The couple has one son, Leon.
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