Matsyuk joins gymnastics coaching staff

PROVO, Utah – BYU gymnastics head coach Guard Young has announced Leonid Matsyuk has joined the Cougars as a volunteer coach.

Matsyuk joins Young's coaching staff that includes assistant coaches Natalie Broekman and Brogan Evanson.

"I'm excited to join the BYU gymnastics coaching staff," Matsyuk said. "It's a new part of my career and I look forward to sharing my gymnastics experience and helping these athletes succeed."

An experienced gymnast, Matsyuk has 16 years as a competitive gymnast, eight years as a coach and five years as an acrobat.

The Ukraine native was a reserve for the Olympic National Team from 1995-2000. In 1999, he received the Master Sport of Ukraine Gymnastics Certification.

In 2000, Matsyuk joined the Dynamo School of Gymnastics in Ukraine. He spent the following six years coaching men and women as well as fulfilling time as a national judge for upper level men's gymnastics. He also studied at Kherson State University during this time and then went on to European University.

Matsyuk joined Feld Entertainment in 2012 where he performed in the trampoline act for Ringling Brothers, performing acrobatics with Olympic trampolines and a five-meter tower as part of a six-person troupe. He traveled through the United States, Mexico and Europe for performances until May 2016.

After his time in the circus, Matsyuk came to Utah and was the head coach for the women's program at USA Gymnastics World in Woods Cross.