Director of Spirit

Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

Posting Type: External

Retirement Plan: TRS or ORP

Employment Type: Employee

Benefits Eligibility: Benefits Eligible

Full/Part time: Full Time

Additional Schedule Information: Ability to work nontraditional hours to include some nights, weekends, and holidays. Ability to travel.

Advertised Salary: $55,000 - $70,000

Posting Date: 08/31/2026

Open until filled: Yes

Proposed Starting Date: 09/21/2026

Location of Vacancy: Athens Area

EEO Policy Statement: The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement: The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02. Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Classification Title: Head Coach-Cheerleading

FLSA: Exempt

FTE: 1.00

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related coaching experience

Position Summary: Coordinate all spirit team practices and annual tryout at the end of spring semester. Coordinate travel and attend all required home and some post-season competitions. Coordinate all youth and college prep clinics and manage recruiting efforts for potential spirit members. Track academics of all team members to ensure compliance. Coordinate strength and conditioning and training schedule. Create and maintain spirit budget. Handle all mascot operations including casting, invoicing and overall supervision of appearances. Handle inventory for spirit program and maintenance of mascot uniforms.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies: 4 years of progressive instruction and or coaching experience with collegiate or club level cheerleading or dance programs. Detail-oriented along with excellent communication and organizational skills. Ability to read, analyze and interpret NCAA, SEC and institutional rules and regulations. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from individuals, customers and the general public. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only a limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Physical Demands: Standing, walking, using hands and arms to feel and reach. Specific vision abilities include close and distance vision, and peripheral vision. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but escalates to high during practice and athletic competitions.

Is driving a responsibility of this position?: Yes

Is this a Position of Trust?: Yes

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?: Yes

Does this position require a P-Card? : No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? : No

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?: Yes

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications): No

Credit and P-Card policy: Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy: Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Duties/Responsibilities (30%): Coordinate all spirit team practices and annual tryout at the end of spring semester. Attend all home football games, and selected volleyball matches, gymnastics meets, and men’s and women’s basketball games through the season. Coordinate all clinics (youth and college prep) including but to limited to (2) summer, (1) fall and (1) spring. Coordinate recruiting efforts for potential spirit members including attending recruitment fairs, coordinating all-boy clinics aimed at current UGA students to get involved in cheer and coordinate spring open gym opportunities. Coordinate all work weekends and 2-a-days for cheer, dance and mascot.

Duties/Responsibilities (30%): Coordinate all travel including football away trips and football, mbb and wbb postseason. Role required to track academics of all team members to ensure compliance. Coordinate strength and conditioning and training schedule. Work with fan engagement to create atmosphere opportunities at all football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball games. Coordinate alumni opportunities, coordinate letterwinner awards and scholarship program. Create and maintain spirit budget. Plan, coordinate and execute all away and post-season travel.

Duties/Responsibilities (30%): Mascot operations including casting, invoicing and overall supervision of appearances including communication with requesting groups and follow-up on transactions to secure payment, appearance details and overall details of mascot and spirit appearances. Position required to travel to all applicable appearances outside of Athens. Position required to travel to selected away football games and postseason travel (football, mbb, wbb). Position required to work all home football games and selected other home volleyball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and gymnastics events. Maintain all mascot uniforms including mascot heads, arms, legs, shoes and Spike costume. This includes refurbishment, repairs and replacements as required.

Duties/Responsibilities (10%): Coordinate all Nike gear ordering, inventory and uniform inventory and replenishment (including distribution and collection). Inventory includes ordering of all supplies including shoes, poms, uniforms and all other items needed for cheer, dance and mascot programs.

Contact Details

Recruitment Contact Name: Emily Echols

Recruitment Contact Email: edeitz@sports.uga.edu

Organization

Website: https://www.uga.edu/

Telephone: 706-542-3000

Location: 215 S. Jackson St., Athens, Georgia 30602, United States