MOUNT OLIVE (Aug. 1) – With over a decade of coaching experience, Kaylee Hunt was announced as the head coach for the University of Mount Olive spirit team while also serving in student-athlete success.
Hunt recently completed her 11th year as the head cheerleading coach at Purnell Swett High School in Pembroke, North Carolina. She directed the varsity and junior varsity student-athletes while achieving success with multiple wins at the NCHSAA State Cheerleading Championship and National Cheerleading Championship. Additionally, Hunt conducted outreach and clinics to attract new athletes from surrounding schools to the sport.
"I am so excited to be joining UMO as the Head Coach for the Spirit Team along with Student-Athlete Success," said Hunt. "In this role, I will be able to blend my passion for helping student-athletes achieve academic success along with my passion for cheer and coaching. I can't wait to get started!"
At the collegiate level, Hunt served as the assistant coach at Methodist University during the 2022-2023 academic year. She led team management for the program, including budgets, facilities, educational support, and athlete retention. Hunt held practice sessions, developed training plans, and assisted in operational procedures for the Monarchs.
Additionally, she brings over a decade of experience in All-Star Cheer coaching experience with stints at Fierce Cheerleading, Cheer Extreme All-Stars, and Cheer Sensations All-Stars. Hunt led competitive cheerleading teams to multiple national championships through rigorous training and innovative choreography. She coached athletes ages 3-18 and developed skills in stunts, tumbling, and dance while promoting program commitment.
"We are extremely excited to add Kaylee as our new Spirit Team Head Coach. Her passion and enthusiasm for cheerleading and dance stood out immediately," said Director of Athletics Joey Higginbotham. "We look forward to seeing the growth and stability she will bring to our program here at UMO. Kaylee will also have responsibilities with our Student-Athlete success programs."
Hunt served in Academic and Career Advising during the 2023-24 academic year at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP). She advised nearly 300 students to create individual academic plans to support growth with equity and inclusion. Hunt delivered online academic support courses focused on time management and resources while collaborating with faculty on student success barriers. She also worked in a similar role during the 2022-23 academic year at Methodist University.
In 2020-21 at UNCP, Hunt worked as an Academic Success Coach to support students' social, relational, and academic goals. She organized and conducted weekly workshops to cover essential college success topics.
As a collegiate student-athlete, Hunt contributed to the establishment and leadership of the UNCP Competitive Club Cheerleading team in 2015, achieving Canam Champions status. She became a member of the UNCP Game Day team upon its re-establishment in 2017. Additionally, Hunt competed on two level 6 All-Star Cheerleading teams and secured multiple National Championships.
She was a member of Alpha Pi Omega: Beta Chapter at UNC Pembroke and served in multiple leadership roles while advocating for Native American women on-and-off campus. She was a Co-Presenter at the 2021 AIESEP Scientific Conference for a project about Centering the Native Voice in Indigenous Research: A methodological review. Hunt also completed her Master's Thesis on Native American Identity and Attitudes Towards Native American Mascots.
Hunt completed her bachelor's degree in studio art with a concentration in printmaking and digital art from UNC Pembroke in 2018. Two years later, she earned a master's degree in physical education with a concentration in sports administration at UNCP.
