Garland Named Competitive Cheer Coach

University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis welcomes Sean Garland as the head coach for competitive cheer. Garland will immediately begin work on building the inaugural cheer team at UHSP to begin in the fall of 2022.

Garland comes to UHSP from Texas, where he owned a competitive all-star cheer gym in the Houston area, Texas Lonestar Cheer Company, for 25 years. The program won hundreds of national titles as well as a silver and bronze medal at the cheerleading world championships in 2007 and 2011.

Garland was also the head cheer coach for the University of Houston Cougars from 1999 – 2007, where he oversaw 70 cheerleaders divided into women's and coed teams and directed the mascot program for the cougars. During his time at the University of Houston, Garland won three collegiate national titles for the "coogs" in 2001,2003, and 2004.

Garland enjoys coaching collegiate-level athletes and all the skills they bring to the table. He is very excited to build both competition and sideline teams here at UHSP. The competition team will compete under the NAIA athletic division with hopes of being invited to the national championship each year. The sideline team will be on campus to support the Eutectic athletic teams.

Garland will also be charged with overseeing the development of school spirit and pride for all UHSP students. He aims to make Mortarmer "Morty" McPestle, the Eutectic mascot, more visible on campus and play an integral role in creating a sense of Eutectic pride.

UHSP Director of Athletics Jill Harter is thrilled to have Garland build the inaugural competitive cheer team at UHSP.

"We're so excited Sean has joined UHSP athletics to build our competitive cheer team and spirit programs from the ground up," said Harter. "His contagious enthusiasm and wealth of experience are sure to draw exceptional student-athletes to invigorate campus around our existing and newly added athletic teams. He is a great addition to Eutectic Athletics!"

Having graduated from Iowa State University, Garland has deep Midwest roots, and is excited to be a part of UHSP in the great city of St. Louis. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends and traveling. Garland can't wait for his first Cardinals and Blues games to experience the real St. Louis.