Xiao Yuan enters his seventh season as a Wolverine assistant coach.
In 2010, Xiao assisted Michigan to the program's fourth NCAA team title, becoming the only active collegiate coach to help two teams to the NCAA title. Xiao, along with fellow assistant coach, Geoff Corrigan, was named the 2010 NCAA National Assistant Coach of the Year. Additionally, Xiao has coached several Wolverines on the international stage traveling with recently graduated Chris Cameron to the 2010 Japan Cup in Tokyo, Japan and the 2010 World Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Xiao also coached current junior Rohan Sebastian, competing for Ireland, at the 2009 World Championships in London, United Kingdom.
The Beijing, China native previously coached for five years at the University of Oklahoma. While with the Sooners, Xiao helped guide them to NCAA team titles in 2002, 2003 and 2005, as well as runner-up finishes in 2001 and 2004. He also helped coach 2004 U.S. Olympic silver medalist Guard Young while Young trained at Oklahoma. Prior to coaching at Oklahoma, Xiao coached in Houston, Texas, with U.S. National Team coach Kevin Mazieka. Before moving to the United States, Xiao coached several Chinese Olympic and World Championship gymnasts. He has coached athletes who have competed in each of the last three Olympiads, including Yang Wei and Xing Aowei. Both were gold medalists at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and at the 1998 World Championships. Yuan has also coached athletes at the 1994 and 1995 World Championships and the 1997 World University Games. Xiao received his bachelor's degree in sports education from Beijing University in 1988 and has lectured at the USA Gymnastics National Congress in 1998, 2002 and 2006. He and his wife Julia, a former Cirque du Soleil performer, have two daughters, Pearl (15) and Sophia (4).
