AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward's University athletics department announces the hiring of Sean Garland as its new head STUNT and cheerleading coach.
"We're thrilled to welcome Sean to the Hilltop community," says Director of Athletics Dr. Jim Sarra. "With his extensive experience, Sean is perfectly positioned to lay the groundwork for our new STUNT program and elevate our cheer program into an electrifying gameday experience."
Garland comes to the Hilltop with 25 years of experience coaching sideline and competitive cheerleading. Most recently, he was the first head competitive cheerleading and mascot coach at the University of Health Science and Pharmacy in St. Louis. He created gameday activities and promotions and fundraised for the start-up program with 30 recruits.
Before UHSP, he owned Texas Lonestar Cheer Company, a competitive all-star cheer gym in Houston, for 25 years. His gym helped schools, all-star teams, and college teams with NCA, UCA, USA, ACP, and several other cheerleading organizations to national titles and silver and bronze medals at the 2007 and 2011 cheerleading world championships.
Garland also served as the University of Houston head cheer and mascot coach from 1999 to 2007, leading the Cougars to collegiate national titles in 2001, 2003, and 2004.
He received his B.B.A. in Marketing from Iowa State in 1989 and his B.S. in Speech Communications in 1990. He has memberships with USA Cheer, National Cheerleaders Association College Coach Certification, University Cheerleaders Association College Coach Certification, and USASF Coach Certification Level 1-5 for All-Star Cheerleading.
"I'm enthusiastic about the opportunity to bring my expertise to St. Edward's University," Garland says. "I'm looking forward to contributing to the success of your spirit program and being a part of the first year for STUNT."
STUNT begins competition in the spring against other Lone Star Conference schools. This season will be the second year the Lone Star Conference fields a STUNT season.
