NCAA 2026 NCAA Coaching changes

[ugadawgkat]

Since Auburn’s staff is filled, I wonder if Koltakov and King might stay at UGA. While they have been removed from the coaching roster at UGA, it is my understanding that when a new head coach is named all staff has to be re-interviewed. It would not surprise me if they just end up staying at UGA.

 

[irichluck21]

I wonder if they will end up getting BYU before UGA, because Megan Dowlen is going to be primary coach for vault. King was primary for floor and Roberts primary for bars.
Koltakov was the former primary coach on vault.

Both having experience as coaches at Nebraska and Georgia, Bug Ten and SEC might be what BYU will be looking for.

We shall see.

Carver Milne was the associate head coach at Auburn, so it appears she has been replaced.
Leonard-Fischer was the other assistant.
Both are still listed on the coaching roster.

ETA I see Sophia Davila and Adam Duncan are at Auburn so both Carver-Milne and Leonard-Fischer are out.

 

[ugadawgkat]

Ryan Roberts is obviously a good person to work with as evidenced by the following people who have formerly worked with him deciding to continue to work with him:

CCL - They worked together at WOGA before UGA
King and Koltakov - They worked together at BAMA before UGA,
and now
Aja Sims-Fletcher who worked with him at BAMA and
Adam Duncan who worked with him at WOGA

Auburn is in good hands.

 

[AmiK]

 

[RedBirdie]

Utah adds Steve Arkell as an assistant coach. He comes from club, no NCAA experience.

Red Rocks Add USA National Team Coach Steve Arkell to Coaching Staff - University of Utah Athletics

Arkell brings over 40 years of elite coaching experience to Utah Gymnastics

utahutes.com

 

[Puffin]

Utah adds Steve Arkell as an assistant coach. He comes from club, no NCAA experience.

Red Rocks Add USA National Team Coach Steve Arkell to Coaching Staff - University of Utah Athletics

Arkell brings over 40 years of elite coaching experience to Utah Gymnastics

utahutes.com

OMG - when I first read your post I thought it said that Steve Urkel had been appointed!!!

 

[irichluck21]

Wonder where Jimmy Pratt is headed.

 

[irichluck21]

Jay Clark's ex wife and former UGA gymnast Julie Ballard Clark is the new AC at Arizona.

 

[Sasha]

Utah adds Steve Arkell as an assistant coach. He comes from club, no NCAA experience.

Red Rocks Add USA National Team Coach Steve Arkell to Coaching Staff - University of Utah Athletics

Arkell brings over 40 years of elite coaching experience to Utah Gymnastics

utahutes.com

No NCAA experience, but a hell of a resume. He seems like a get for Utah.

 

[RedBirdie]

Wonder where Jimmy Pratt is headed.

He left mid-season, which was so odd.

 

[ugadawgkat]

Does anyone have any current speculation about where Koltekov and King might end up?

 

[ugadawgkat]

 

[irichluck21]

Yeah we will see a lot of the graduates that make a start as an assistant coach leave after finishing masters degree. Before the 4th paid coaching position was added they were often volunteer coaches.

 

[makam]

Yeah we will see a lot of the graduates that make a start as an assistant coach leave after finishing masters degree. Before the 4th paid coaching position was added they were often volunteer coaches.

Is the pay enough to actually live in California or do they have to set up a tent in the gym? But yeah, I can see, depending on what the graduate degree is in, they might be anxious to get started with their "real" career.

 

[irichluck21]

Graduate students can live on campus in dorms and also usually there is off campus apartments that are owned by the University that are "housing cost" rather than rent and can include a meal plan, but of course they have their own kitchens.

I was an RA for 2 years and AHD for a year. My building had 8 "suites" on the ground floor for graduates. 8 suites with two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, study area, and a bathroom.

 

[irichluck21]

College Gymnastics News posted an update today.

Last Week in College Gym: May 4 - College Gym News

All the recent articles published on College Gym News, including event coverage, recruiting news, features, data deep dives and more.

collegegymnews.com

• Minnesota assistant coach and former standout gymnast Mya Hooten is leaving the Gophers’ staff after just one season to pursue a coaching opportunity at her club gym, Classic Gymnastics.
• Arizona assistant coaches Kylie Kratchwell and Shelby Martinez left the staff and were replaced by Julie Ballard Clark and Emma Strom. Ballard Clark is a former club coach, and Strom just completed her senior season at Arizona.
• Steve Arkell was added to Utah’s coaching roster as an assistant coach. Arkell is currently a club coach in Texas and will serve as the Utes’ bars coach.
• Missouri assistant coach Lacey Rubin is leaving the coaching staff after three seasons.
• Pittsburgh assistant coach Lexi Funk was promoted to associate head coach.
• Arizona State assistant coach James Williams was removed from the coaching roster. He joined the Sun Devils’ staff in 2023.
• Oshkosh assistant coach Eboni Jackson was removed from the coaching roster after one season on staff.
• California assistant coach and former standout gymnast Mya Lauzon is leaving the program.
• Eastern Michigan assistant coach and former standout gymnast Sophia Rios is leaving the coaching staff.
• Pittsburgh assistant coach Amanda Wellick left the coaching staff after coaching at the school since 2021.
• Ursinus assistant coach Natalie Stauch left the coaching staff. 2025 was her lone season with the program.
• Western Michigan assistant coach Don Houlton was removed from the coaching roster. He joined the Broncos’ staff in 2022.

 

[cftmoonlight79]

So who else needs 2 assistants? I know MSU does, I'm wondering if they will hire anyone ASAP with DP Nationals this weekend. Its typically a 2 coach job, one in the junior gym and one in the senior gym.

 

[irichluck21]

BYU promoted AHC Natalie Broekman to Head Coach.
There are 3 AC positions there to be filled as well as MSU.
Nebraska also needs two AC.

 

[irichluck21]

At this point, I wonder if if King and Kotlatev will have positions next year, they come as a married couple. So I wonder if they have a shot at Nebraska, BYU, or Michigan State.

Michigan State would be a good get for them and Mike Rowe given Georgia's season.

Otherwise there aren't two coaching slots available to be filled if they both want to coach together,