LEXINGTON ? Renowned gymnastics coach Chuck Dickerson has been named as a new assistant coach to the Kentucky gymnastics team, it was announced by head coach Mo Mitchell on Monday.

?We?re very excited about having Chuck join our program. With his motivation and experience, he is one of best coaches in country,? Mitchell said. ?Chuck?s enthusiasm, work ethic, we feel, are the missing pieces of the puzzle here. With him on our staff, the things we can accomplish and achieve are limitless.?

Dickerson has spent the past four years working in his home town of Tyler, Texas, at Texas East Gymnastics. There, he coached numerous gymnasts to nationals and, in each of the past two years, had a qualifier for the USA Championships.

Prior to his most recent post, Dickerson spent eight years at Rowland/Ballard Gymnastics in Kingwood, Texas, where he led 15 gymnasts to nationals and seven to NCAA Division I scholarships. In 2002, he was voted by his peers as the USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year in Texas.

Throughout his career, Dickerson coached three national champions. He also worked for 10 years under famed coach Bela Karolyi.

?I am very excited about joining the University of Kentucky. I want to come in and be a piece of the puzzle. I think we have a bright future and I don?t see any reason we can?t keep building a championship program,? Dickerson said.

?I?ve known Mo for a number of years and the opportunity came about at a perfect time in my life. A lot of people have told me I need to coach college gymnastics. The timing was right and this opportunity just seemed to good to be true.?