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COACHING STAFF

Head Coach Chuck ChmelkaCHUCK CHMELKA | HEAD COACH

Coach Chmelka enters his 14th season as Nebraska's head coach prepared to lead the Huskers through their 12th season in the Big Ten in 2023.

In his last 12 years as NU’s head coach, he helped produce nine top-10 NCAA finishes and 23 All-Americans. Chmelka looks to continue leading the Huskers to become one of the nation’s top-ranked programs in the years to come.

In 2022, Chmelka produced two All-Americans (Dillan King and Donte McKinney). Chmelka led the Huskers to their second-consecutive runner-up finish at the Big Ten Championships, their best finish since joining the conference. The season was highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

In 2021, Chmelka produced four All-Americans (Taylor Christopulos, Charlie Giles, Evan Kriley and Mitch Tyndall). Chmelka lead the Huskers to their best conference finish since joining the Big Ten, finishing second. The season was highlighted by a first-place finish at the NCAA Qualifiers and a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Finals.

In 2020, Chmelka produced one regular season All-American (Jake Bonnay) despite the season ending early due to the coronavirus pandemic. Chmelka was on track to reach the NCAA Championship Finals for the fourth year in a row. The Huskers finished the season ranked fourth in the CGA Coaches Poll.

In 2019, Chmelka led the Huskers to their best national finish since 1999, as the team finished third nationally. Chmelka produced five All-Americans for six All-America awards (Jake Bonnay, Charlie Giles, Khalil Jackson, Josh Martin & Anton Stephenson).  He coached Anton Stephenson to his third Big Ten vault title.

In 2018, Chmelka led the Huskers to a fifth place finish at the NCAA Championships. Chmelka produced four All-Americans. Chmelka also developed the vault program, as Anton Stephenson placed second at the NCAA Championships and earned the gold medal at the Big Ten Championships. Chmelka also had three Huskers place in the top three at the Big Ten Championships (Anton Stephenson, Jake Bonnay and Kyle King).

In 2017, Chmelka led the Huskers to the team finals at the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1999 where the team finished sixth nationally. Chmelka produced two All-Americans (Austin Epperson and Kyle King) both on floor. Additionally, Anton Stephenson claimed the Big Ten vault title at the Big Ten Championships, becoming Chmelka's first conference winner and NU's first Big Ten Champion. Chmelka also helped Chris Stephenson claim NCAA Gymnast-of-the-Week accolades.

In 2016, the team shattered school records nearly every week, including total team score, total floor score (twice), total pommel horse score (twice) and total high bar score. Individually, Ethan Lottman and Kyle King broke the program record on pommel horse (15.55) and floor (15.85) respectively. The Huskers made a run in the postseason as well. Daniel Leal placed second on parallel bars at the Big Ten Championships. At the NCAA Championships, the team finished seventh. Four gymnasts took home All-America honors (Ethan Lottman, Sam Chamberlain, Austin Epperson and Anton Stephenson). This was the first time since 1998 that four separate gymnasts each took home an All-America honor.

In 2015, Chmelka helped the Huskers overcome several health issues during the season. Junior, Ethan Lottman, erupted for a breakout year under Chmelka, earning All-America honors on pommel horse at the NCAA event finals. Lottman also captured the Elite 89 Award and second-time CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades.

In 2014, the Huskers completed strong despite being plagued with injuries early on. Senior Wyatt Aycock led the team in the all-around, earning his second All-America honors in a row. Over the course of the season, 15 Huskers tied or set career-highs on individual events. These achievements helped pave the way for NU's eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

In 2013, Chmelka produced three All-Americans (Wyatt Aycock, Grant Perdue and Sam Chamberlain). This trio became NU's 48th, 49th and 50th All-Americans since 1975. At the time, these All-America honors were the most earned in a single season since the program last produced three All-Americans in 1999.

In 2011-12, Chmelka led the Huskers to their first season in the tradition-rich Big Ten Conference. Under Chmelka's leadership, NU completed its inaugural Big Ten season with a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Championships paced by freshman All-American Grant Perdue.

In 2011, the Huskers continued to build by posting another top-10 national finish despite a lineup made up of primarily first- and second-year gymnasts.

In his first season as head coach, Chmelka helped the Huskers return to the national top 10 by tying for ninth with a veteran team.

Before the 2010 season, Coach Chuck Chmelka replaced legendary NU coach Francis Allen, an icon of U.S. men's gymnastics.

Prior to becoming head coach, Chmelka served as an assistant under Allen from 1986-2009, and assisted with three of the Huskers' eight national team championships.
Since Chmelka joined the staff in 1986, he has coached Nissen-Emery Award winners Wes Suter (1986) and Tom Schlesinger (1988) and helped Nebraska win eight conference titles. Chmelka was named the 2007 CGA West Region Assistant Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the 2009 CGA West Region Award.

Prior to Coaching at Nebraska
Chmelka competed at Nebraska from 1978 to 1981 and was a member of NU's first three national championship teams in 1979, 1980 and 1981.

Since 1982, Chmelka has been the program director and head coach for the Nebraska School of Gymnastics (NSG) boys' team, producing such athletes as former Nebraska All-Americans Dusty Jakub, Blake Bukacek, Derek Leiter, Ryan McEwen, Burkett Powell and Jason Christie. NSG athletes have competed in the Junior Pan American Games, Junior Olympic Nationals, Olympic Festival and have traveled abroad for various competitions (Junior Pacific Alliance Championships and USA vs Canada).

After completing his eligibility at NU, Chmelka was a volunteer assistant coach while finishing his bachelor's degree in community health, which he earned in 1982. In 1988, Chmelka added a bachelor's degree in education.

An Omaha South graduate and product of Omaha Sokol and the legendary Phil Cahoy Sr., Chemlka was a high school and collegiate teammate of Husker Olympians Jim Hartung and Phil Cahoy Jr.

Chmelka is married to former Husker gymnast and Lincoln native Kim Grabowski. A four-year letterwinner, Grabowski helped the Huskers win the 1983 Big Eight Championship and was crowned the all-around champion the same year. The couple has one son, Alex, who attends the University of Nebraska.

 

Assistant Coach Jim HartungJIM HARTUNG | ASSISTANT COACH

One of gymnastics most highly decorated competitors of all time, Jim Hartung enters his 18th season as a Nebraska assistant coach in 2023. Hartung has dedicated his life to bettering the sport he loves. Over the last 32 years, Hartung has worked in all aspects of the gymnastics community from competing to judging and now coaching and has earned a level of success paralleled by few in his field.

Hartung was a part of the College Gymnastic Association’s inaugural Hall of Fame Class in 2024.

In 2022, Hartung helped produce two All-Americans (Dillan King and Donte McKinney). Hartung helped the Huskers to a runner-up finish at the Big Ten Championships. He also helped NU reach the NCAA Finals for the sixth time in seven years. The Huskers earned a fourth-place finish for the second consecutive year.

In 2021, Hartung helped produce four All-Americans (Taylor Christopulos, Charlie Giles, Evan Kriley and Mitch Tyndall). Hartung helped the Huskers return to the NCAA Championship Finals for the fifth time in six years. The Huskers earned a fourth-place finish and five All-America honors.

In 2020, Hartung helped produce a regular season All-American (Jake Bonnay) despite the season ending early due to the coronavirus. Hartung was on track to help the Huskers return to the NCAA Championship Finals for the fourth year in a row. The Huskers ended the season ranked fourth in the CGA Coaches Poll.

In 2019, Hartung led the Huskers to their best national finish since 1999, as the team finished third nationally. Hartung also helped produce five All-Americans (Jake Bonnay, Charlie Giles, Khalil Jackson, Josh Martin and Anton Stephenson). Hartung coached Anton Stephenson to his third Big Ten title on vault.

In 2018, Hartung led the Huskers to a fifth place national finish. Hartung helped produce four All-Americans. Hartung also helped the vault program, as Anton Stephenson earned his second Big Ten title. He also helped three Huskers to place in the top three at the Big Ten Championships (Anton Stephenson, Jake Bonnay and Kyle King).

In 2017, Hartung helped lead the Huskers to the team finals at the NCAA Championships, where the team finished sixth nationally. Austin Epperson and Kyle King each grabbed All-American honors. Additionally, Anton Stephenson claimed the Big Ten vault title at the Big Ten Championships, becoming the program's first conference champion since 2002. Hartung also helped Chris Stephenson claim NCAA Gymnast-of-the-Week accolades.

In 2016, Hartung helped Ethan Lottman to All-America honors on the pommel horse. Hartung also played a vital role in freshman all-arounder Anton Stephenson's success. Stephenson placed seventh on parallel bars at the NCAA Championships and earned All-America honors. Hartung also helped lead the Huskers to a seventh place overall finish at the NCAA Championships.

In 2015, Hartung helped Ethan Lottman earn All-America honors on the pommel horse.

In his first year with the Huskers in 2006, Hartung made an immediate impact. His hands-on work ethic and knowledge of gymnastics technique brought a new level of training to the Nebraska gymnastics program.

Prior to Coaching at Nebraska
A protégé of the prestigious Omaha Sokol gymnastics club in Omaha, Hartung came to the University of Nebraska as a freshman gymnast in 1979 and made an outstanding debut onto the collegiate scene under head coach Francis Allen. Hartung garnered All-America status on five of six events during his freshman season and went on to amass a total of 22 All-America awards and seven NCAA individual titles over the next three years. His accolades included a pair of all-around titles in 1980 and 1981.

Hartung also led the Huskers to their first four NCAA team titles and consequently became Nebraska's first Nissen-Emery Award winner in 1982. The Omaha native finished his collegiate career as the most highly decorated gymnast in Nebraska history and still owns the program's all-around record of 58.55 which he earned in 1981.

His tremendous collegiate career led Hartung to the Olympics before he even had a diploma in hand, as he was first selected the U.S. team in 1980. Hartung repeated the honor in 1984 after graduating from NU. He helped the United States to its first and only team gold medal at the summer games in Los Angeles, California.

After competing in the Olympics as an athlete, Hartung went on to spend nearly a decade as a visitation coach for the U.S. national team and became one of the top 10 gymnastics judges in the world.

Hartung has four children, Jim, Nick, Jake and Hannah.

Assistant Coach John RobinsonJOHN ROBINSON | ASSISTANT COACH
John Robinson enters his 15th season as a Nebraska assistant coach in 2025. Robinson handles most of the team’s recruiting, marketing, fundraising and program development. His coaching methodology focuses on structured design plans and setting up competition environments in practice. Robinson has been a key contributor in producing many of the program’s top gymnasts in recent years including All-Americans Wyatt Aycock, Jake Bonnay, Khalil Jackson, Griffin Kehler, Grant Perdue, 2014 Big Ten still rings medalist Robbie Kocks, and three-time Big Ten vault gold medalist Anton Stephenson.

In 2022, Robinson helped NU to a runner-up finish at the Big Ten Championships and a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. He helped produce two All-Americans (Dillan King and Donte McKinney).

In 2021, Robinson helped the Huskers to second-place finish at the Big Ten Championships and a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. He also helped produce four All-Americans (Taylor Christopulos, Charlie Giles, Evan Kriley and Mitch Tyndall) for five All-America honors.

In 2020, Robinson was on track to help the Huskers return to the NCAA Championship finals for the fourth year in a row before the season ended early due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite this, Robinson helped produce one regular-season All-American (Jake Bonnay).

In 2019, Robinson helped lead the Huskers to their best national finish since 1999 as the team finished third nationally. He also helped produce five All-Americans (Jake Bonnay, Charlie Giles, Khalil Jackson, Josh Martin and Anton Stephenson). Robinson also helped coach Anton Stephenson to his third Big Ten title on vault.

In 2018, Robinson helped the team to a fifth place finish at the NCAA Championships. Robinson also helped produce four All-Americans. Robinson also helped develop the vault program, as Anton Stephenson placed second at the NCAA Championships and three Huskers (Anton Stephenson, Jake Bonnay and Kyle King) placed in the top three at the Big Ten Championships.

In 2017, Robinson helped the Huskers to advance to the team finals at the NCAA Championships where the team finished sixth nationally. Austin Epperson and Kyle King each earned All-America honors. Additionally, Anton Stephenson claimed the Big Ten vault title at the Big Ten Championships becoming the program's first conference champion since 2002. Robinson also helped Chris Stephenson claim NCAA Gymnast-of-the-Week accolades.

In 2016, Robinson helped produce Big Ten medalist Daniel Leal who placed second at the Big Ten Championships on parallel bars with a career-high score of 15.425. It was the Huskers' second conference medal since joining the Big Ten.

John Robinson joined the Nebraska Men's Gymnastics coaching staff in 2011.

Prior to Coaching at Nebraska
A former Husker gymnast, Robinson competed in the all-around for three of his four seasons at Nebraska. He was a four-year lettermen at NU from 2007-2010.

A native of North Carolina, Robinson was a Husker leader for four seasons. As a senior, Robinson was named Nebraska's Hartung Award winner. He also earned a spot in the finals at the 2010 Winter Cup - only the second Husker ever to do so. Robinson was also the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 2, 2010, after earning the individual all-around title against Minnesota and Air Force on Jan. 30. Robinson's senior season was cut short by a hand injury.

Robinson competed as an all-arounder at the 2008 NCAA Championships before earning Nebraska's Most Improved Gymnast Award as a sophomore.

In his first season at Nebraska in 2007, Robinson competed in every meet, including the NCAA Qualifier.

He came to Nebraska as a product of Weyandt's Gymnastics Academy in Charlotte, N.C. He was a six-time Junior Olympic national qualifier and a three-time North Carolina state champion.

Robinson earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from Nebraska in 2010. He looks to continue his career in coaching and aspires to break into the international coaching scene.

Robinson is married to former Scarlet, Rachel Russell. The couple has two daughters, Elizabeth (Ellie) and Finley, and one son, Brecken.

Director of Operations Karen FuscoKARIN FUSCO | DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Karin Fusco joined the Nebraska Athletic Department in January of 2009. She serves as the director of operations for the men's gymnastics team.

Before joining the Husker staff, Fusco owned her own business, K&S Medical Transcription, while serving as the office manager for KRL Psychological Services.

Fusco has two sons, Gage and Avery, and lives in Lincoln with her husband Tom.