By Mubarak Simmons, GymnasticsVille Host
Felecia Mulkey is the most dominant coach in college sports today. The head coach of Baylor Acrobatics & Tumbling has won every single national championship in the sport’s history: all 14, in a row.
But her legacy extends far beyond the trophy case. Mulkey is one of the pioneers who helped create Acrobatics & Tumbling as an NCAA sport, blazing a trail for thousands of young women to compete at the collegiate level. For her, that’s what truly matters.
“Every school that adds acrobatics and tumbling is 40-plus new opportunities,” Mulkey says. “That, to me, outweighs all those championships.”
From Athlete to Trailblazing Coach
Mulkey’s journey began as a gymnast and a high-level cheerleader. After graduating from Kennesaw State in 1998, she saw an opportunity to forge a new path.
In 2009, she helped launch Acrobatics & Tumbling at the University of Oregon, becoming the program’s first head coach. In just six seasons, she led the Ducks to four straight NCATA titles.
Her success caught the eye of Baylor University, who brought her on as head coach in 2014 to build a powerhouse program from scratch.
The Baylor Dynasty
What Mulkey has built at Baylor is one of the most dominant dynasties in any sport. Since 2015, the Bears have won every single NCATA championship, racking up a 140-4 record along the way.
Their win streak hit 62 meets in 2026 and shows no signs of slowing down. But for Mulkey, sustained success means fighting complacency.
“This program has been successful but this team has won nothing,” she reminds each new group. “Get over yourselves. Let’s start over.”
That relentless mentality has become a hallmark of the “Baylor Way” she’s instilled, and it’s why the Bears remain at the top year after year.
Creating Opportunities, One Program At a Time
As NCATA’s Director of Expansion, Mulkey has made it her mission to grow Acrobatics & Tumbling and create as many new opportunities for young women as possible.
From a handful of initial schools, the sport has grown to over 60 programs across all three NCAA divisions. In 2026, A&T was elevated to championship sport status, a major validation of Mulkey’s tireless work.
“If we had built this sport so that I could go out and win everything, I would have quit by now,” she says. “This has never been about winning. This has been about opportunities for women at the collegiate level.”
The Future is Bright
With the Bears poised to chase title number 12 and beyond, Mulkey’s legacy in Acrobatics & Tumbling is secure. But she’s far from done.
She’ll continue to grow the sport, fight for new programs, and open doors. And she has a message for gymnasts of all ages:
“Stay in gymnastics as long as you can. But when you’re ready, acrobatics and tumbling will be waiting for you. And you will have the best foundation of any athlete walking in.”
With leaders like Felecia Mulkey blazing the trail, the future of Acrobatics & Tumbling and the opportunities it provides has never been brighter.
