University of Minnesota Athletics
MGYM: Konstantin Kolesnikov Named Men's Gymnastics Assistant Coach
8/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
"I am very excited about having Kostya as part of my staff," said Burns. "His experience as part of the dominant Russian gymnastics system as well as his experience in the USA Junior program is an unbelievable combination. Not only does he have all the tools to succeed here in our program but he's also a great guy who will add tremendously to our program."
Kolesnikov comes to Minnesota from M&M Gymnastics in New Berlin, Wis., where he served as head coach since 1998. Kolesnikov earned Coach of the Year honors in 1998 and helped his boys’ team qualify for the Junior Olympics five of the past six seasons. He also coached individual gymnasts to scores of 10.0 on the floor exercise in 2005 and on the parallel bars in 2003.
Prior to his work at M&M Gymnastics, Kolesnikov was a boys’ coach for the Swiss Turners Gymnastics Academy in West Allis, Wis., from 1996-98. While coaching with the Turners, Kolesnikov worked with all levels of the boys’ program and tutored future Olympians Paul and Morgan Hamm. Kolesnikov also performed as an expert clinician at the USA Gymnastics National Congress in 1998 and was the Junior Pan American Gymnastics Team Coach in 1998 when the team finished first.
Kolesnikov was a trainer for Dynamo Sports Complex in Voronezh, Russia from 1994-96 where he selected and trained Olympic hopefuls in the Soviet Union gymnastics system. He also was a sports instructor for the USSR/Russian National Team in Moscow from 1991 -95.
A member of the USSR/Russian Senior National Team from 1991-95, Kolesnikov received his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Gymnastics Training from the Moscow Institute of Physical Culture in 1994.
Kolesnikov and his wife, Stefny, have one child, a son, Nikolai.
