Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Aquinas College Athletic Department is excited to announce another addition to the coaching staff for the upcoming 2024-25 season with Sue Smith taking over the head coaching responsibilities for the cheer program. Smith will be the fifth head coach in the history of the AQ cheer program since the sport began competing in the 2015-16 season.

"We are very excited to have Sue Smith join our staff as she leads our cheer program into the future," stated Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Ronald D. Reeves. "Smith is not only a wonderful coach but a mentor within the cheer community. Strong in her foundation, Smith will be a coach to develop long-time leaders in the community. Thank you, Coach Harley Sholl, who led our program and will continue to be a part of the cheer staff. We are excited to see what the future holds for AQ Cheer."

Smith comes to Aquinas with over 11 years of coaching experience at both Cornerstone University and Northpointe Christian High School. "I am so excited to be the new head cheerleading coach at Aquinas," exclaimed Smith about the opportunity to captain the cheer program. "The community here is exceptional, and I feel blessed to be part of this amazing college.  Coaching cheer is my passion and I know God has called me to this career to mentor athletes and help them grow in both their faith and their athletic abilities. I have big plans for this program that include creating a dynamic team culture, developing the skills of each athlete to become elite in stunting and tumbling, and finishing at the top of both the WHAC conference and at NCA Nationals."

Staying within the WHAC, Smith coached the Cornerstone Golden Eagles' cheer team for over two years from 2021 to 2023. While at CU, she helped double the size of the cheer roster while developing athletes to perform at an elite level. Smith was hired at Cornerstone to turn the cheer program around and accomplished that feat in two short seasons. "It was a great experience coaching sideline cheer at Cornerstone and to see the growth of the team was so rewarding," stated Smith. "Competitive cheer is my passion, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to coach cheer at the competitive level at Aquinas. I am also excited to support the AQ basketball teams and serve our community through this program."

Smith began her cheer coaching career in Michigan in 2012 when she launched the varsity football sideline cheer program at Northpointe Christian. In 2013, she also began NPC's competitive cheer program and has cultivated a lot of success. She took the Mustangs to the state finals in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Northpointe advanced to regionals from 2018 through 2024 and achieved the regional runner-up in 2020. She coached her team to OK Silver championships in 2018 and 2019, along with a runner-up finish in 2020.

Education of her athletes at Northpointe has been a crucial part of her success, as each of her teams from 2014 through 2024 haqve been named Academic-All State. "My years at NPC have been so rewarding," said Smith. "Most athletes come into my program without any cheerleading experience but, by creating a dynamic team culture, teaching technique and fundamentals with an encouraging attitude, and truly believing in each person, they become elite-level athletes. I want cheer to be one of the best experiences my athletes have and one that helps them become strong and confident."

Smith was voted the District Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2023 and was also named the Regional Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2023. She serves as a member of the Competitive Cheer Coaches Association of Michigan where she was elected to the board three years ago and continues to serve in that role. She was recently elected as the regional representative to the CCCAM executive board.

Smith is married to her husband Gary and has five children. She loves spending time with her family, and they are always doing something fun together. "The support from my family is amazing. They cheer on my teams at games and competitions and always listen to the many plans, goals, and ideas that I have for my teams," Smith shared. "They are going to look great in the stands wearing their Saints gear!"

When she isn't coaching, Smith's other hobbies include camping, hiking, running 5K's and marathons with her kids, traveling, reading, and working on the book series she is writing.