Emily Stephens - Cheerleaders Coach - Grand Canyon University Athletics

Emily Stephens

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
emily.stephens@gcu.edu

Emily was honored to start the cheerleading program at Grand Canyon University in 2008 and has seen tremendous growth within the program since. In its first year, GCU Cheer had only 14 members, to this year having 35 highly experienced athletes on the team, including the newest addition last season, an All-Girl squad to complement their existing Co-Ed squad. GCU Cheer is centered around the love and mentoring of great game day cheerleaders, campus leaders and ambassadors, as well as cultivating a competitive spirit and program. Competitively, the team placed 1^st in Large Co-Ed at the 2013 USA Collegiate Nationals in Anaheim, CA. In 2015, they placed 5^th in Division II Large Co-Ed and in 2016 they placed 2^nd in Division II Small Co-Ed, both at the UCA Collegiate Nationals in Orlando, FL.

Stephens’ background in cheerleading goes way back to her elementary years when she competed in elite gymnastics and continued her gymnastics and cheerleading through-out junior high and high school. Stephens graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor’s of Art in Communications, where she was also honored to cheer and represent the Broncos on the infamous blue turf.

In addition to being the cheer team’s head coach, Stephens is also the Director of Spirit Programs, overseeing cheer, dance, mascot & GCU’s student section. She absolutely loves the ability to collaborate all spirit groups at GCU and work hand-in-hand with the leaders of those programs. She has always said she is extremely blessed to have a job that is truly her hobby and gives her so much joy and fulfillment, and has been honored to be a part of the tremendous growth at Grand Canyon over the past 8 years.

Stephens also works closely with the Spiritline activities division of the Arizona Interscholastic Association and serves as the judges’ coordinator for the AIA Spiritline Competitions. She also enjoys speaking at various coaches conferences on developing a program and leadership within a team.

In her spare time, she simply loves spending time with her husband Brandon, and their two sons Dylan and Wyat. They enjoy family trips, weekend football, swimming and playing with the family dog, a 12-year-old golden retriever named Abby.