Benedictine College Athletic Director Charlie Gartenmayer has announced the hiring of Hailey Spring-Clark as the next Competitive Cheer head coach.

"We are excited to welcome Hailey to Raven Nation," Gartenmayer said. "She has a broad understanding of not just cheer, but dance and stunt, and we look forward to what she will bring to the program both in competition and on the sideline."

Coach Spring-Clark joins Benedictine after serving as the head coach for both cheer and dance at Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kan. She took over the program in January 2026 after serving the previous year as an assistant coach for both programs. She helped guide the program to a second-place finish at nationals against university-level programs.

"I want to thank Charlie and the administration for the opportunity to join Benedictine and lead the cheer program," Coach Spring-Clark said. "I'm grateful for the trust they've placed in me and excited to get started. I look forward to building relationships across campus and helping our student-athletes succeed both on and off the mat."

Prior to Neosho, Coach Spring-Clark spent a year as the head gameday and competitive assistant coach for Ottawa University. She graduated from Ottawa with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a concentration in coaching.

"What attracted me to Benedictine was the sense of community and the program itself," Coach Spring-Clark said. "Throughout the hiring process, I had the opportunity to meet Charlie and several faculty and staff members, and everyone was incredibly welcoming and supportive. It was clear that Benedictine genuinely cares about its students and student-athletes, and I could really see myself being part of that environment. 

"On top of that, it's an established program that I was already familiar with and have always heard great things about. Between the people, the reputation of the program, and the overall feel of campus, it just felt like a great fit where I can come in, contribute my experience, and continue building on a strong foundation."

In her role with the cheer program, Coach Spring-Clark will not only work to continue building the competitive side of the program, but continue to develop a program that supports the entire Athletic Department.

"Fans can expect a competitive cheer program that brings energy, enthusiasm, and pride every time we take the sidelines or compete," Coach Spring-Clark said. "We will focus on strong fundamentals, consistency, and representing Benedictine with class, while also supporting all Raven Athletics programs. 

"My goal is to create a culture within the cheer team that is positive, competitive, and focused on continuous growth while helping create an exciting game day atmosphere."

www.ravenathletics.com | #UnleashGreatness | www.benedictine.edu
#TheRightWaytoPlay