Mizzou Announces Contract Extension for Shannon Welker
1/2/2025 12:00:00 PM | Gymnastics
Welker signs to remain head coach of the gymnastics program through the 2029 season.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri Department of Athletics has extended the contract of gymnastics head coach Shannon Welker through 2029, Director of Athletics Laird Veatch announced Thursday.
Since taking over Mizzou's program in May of 2013, Welker has transformed the Tigers into a consistent contender on the national stage. Under Welker's guidance, the program has achieved historic milestones, including multiple NCAA Championship appearances, record-breaking team scores, home attendance records along and the development of numerous All-Americans and conference honorees.
"Shannon Welker has been instrumental in elevating our gymnastics program to unprecedented heights," Veatch said. "His vision, leadership and dedication to our student-athletes' success embody Mizzou's 'Will to Win.' We are extremely pleased to continue building on the incredible momentum Shannon and his staff have built in Columbia."
"I have been honored to represent the University of Missouri Gymnastics program and the women that have helped build it into one of the best teams in the country," Welker said. "The future of our team is bright, and I appreciate Athletics Director's Veatch's vote of confidence. Go Tigers!"
Mizzou opens its 2025 campaign on Friday at 6 p.m. with the "Beauty and the Beast" event, a simultaneous gymnastics and wrestling meet. Welker's 12th season at MU features the gymnastics portion seeing the Tigers competing in a quad format against Ball State, Illinois State and SEMO while Mizzou wrestling will take on Cornell.
Mizzou's gymnastics program set 25 school records in 2024 – including team scores in all four events, average meet attendance (4,644), and seven All-Southeastern Conference selections.
Welker's 2024 squad started off its season with a bang, peaking at No. 3 in the first rankings of the year for the team's highest ranking ever. Just three weeks later, Mizzou earned its biggest dual meet win in program history, knocking off eventual NCAA champion No. 3 LSU on Jan. 26 at Hearnes Center, setting the dual meet attendance record with 7,336 spectators.
Welker led the Tigers to scores of 197 or higher in 12 of their 14 meets during the year, the most in team history. The 2024 campaign marked the fourth consecutive season the team made the NCAA Regional Finals, one of just seven programs in the nation to do so.
Mizzou's fifth-place result at the NCAA Championship in 2022 marked the school's top finish in history. The noteworthy season saw Welker earn the 2022 SEC Coach of the Year award.
Mizzou has seen 12 student-athletes account for 22 All-SEC Team honors since Welker's arrival, with student-athletes being named to the All-SEC team in 10 of his 11 seasons leading the program. In addition, more than 20 percent of all freshmen signed by Coach Welker have finished their first season with an All-SEC Freshman selection.
All six student-athletes in program history who were named Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association All-Americans came under Welker. Those six gymnasts have combined to earn 12 All-American recognitions.
Academically, Welker's gymnasts have excelled as well. The team has posted a 3.23 average grade point average since he took over in 2013, including a mark of 3.49 in the past five years. The 2023-2024 school year marked the team's highest cumulative GPA in his 12 seasons coaching the program (3.53). The team posted a 3.61 GPA in the spring 2024 semester, the second-highest semester GPA in program history.
Ahead of the 2025 campaign, Welker landed the top-ranked transfer class of four and brought in five star-studded freshmen. In addition, two-time All-American and three-time All-Southeastern Conference gymnast Helen Hu has returned to the Tigers' roster and will use her final year of eligibility for the upcoming campaign. MU returns 12 members of the 2024 squad that ended its season in the NCAA Gainesville Regional Final.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Season ticket renewals for the 2025 Mizzou gymnastics season are on sale now at MUTigers.com/Tickets. In addition to hosting "Beauty and the Beast" for the team's regular-season opener, the Tigers will host SEC home duals against Kentucky, Georgia and Auburn.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For all the latest on Mizzou gymnastics, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, X, Instagramand TikTok.
Players Mentioned
