Georgia has begun shaping its coaching staff for the 2027 season after the departure of Ryan Roberts for Auburn and assistant coaches Marissa King and Oleksii Koltakov were removed from the coaching roster. Former GymDog Megan Haught (née Dowlen) was named assistant coach Wednesday evening by head coach Cécile Canqueteau-Landi.
“Joining the University of Georgia gymnastics staff under Cecile Canqueteau-Landi is a true full-circle moment for me,” Haught said. “As a former GymDog, returning to Athens feels like coming home. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return and pour back into a program that has given me so much. Georgia Gymnastics is built on a legacy of excellence, championship culture, and unwavering pride, while prioritizing the development of well-rounded student-athletes. I look forward to supporting Cecile as she leads this program to continued success.”
Haught returns to Athens after spending the 2026 season as an assistant coach at Denver, where she helped guide the Pioneers to a No. 23 national finish with a 196.383 NQS. Denver placed second at the Big 12 championship and fourth in the semifinal of the Corvallis regional. Under her guidance, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Shyla Bhatia advanced to the NCAA national championships on vault.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Megan again,” Canqueteau-Landi said. “Her love for Georgia gymnastics is undeniable, and I couldn’t imagine a better person to help build on our foundation. Her experience, knowledge, and personality will be an outstanding addition to this program.”
A standout GymDog from 2005 to 2008, Haught was part of four consecutive NCAA championship teams and three SEC title-winning squads. She earned All-America honors in 2007 and was an NCAA event finalist on vault, competing regularly on the event throughout her career while also contributing on the other three events, including competing in the all-around. She graduated from Georgia in 2008 with a degree in sociology.
Following her collegiate career, Haught spent nine years coaching at WOGA in Plano, Texas. There, she worked with athletes across all levels, including elites, and helped develop numerous state, regional, and national champions, as well as multiple NCAA Division I scholarship recipients. She has also served as a women’s gymnastics judge since 2023. Before college, Haught trained at WOGA and competed at the senior elite level from 1999 to 2004.
READ THIS NEXT: Ryan Roberts Named Auburn Head Coach
Article by Elizabeth Grimsley
