Jasmine Dalton, who has led the Southern Oregon University cheer and dance programs since 2018, stayed on as head coach when the teams were elevated to varsity status for 2022-23.
A former Raider cheerleading captain, Dalton graduated from SOU in 2018 with degrees in psychology and criminology/criminal justice. Later that year, after serving for two seasons as an assistant cheer coach, she was selected to take on the head job for both the cheer and dance teams.
SOU announced in December the addition of competitive cheer and dance as varsity sports along with cycling and women's beach volleyball. At the same time, men's and women's golf were added as the athletic department's 14th and 15th NAIA intercollegiate sports.
Competitive cheer and dance are also NAIA-sponsored sports. The teams will initially participate in regional competitions and eventually at the national championships.
Dalton is a native of Myrtle Creek, Ore., with 12 years of cheerleading experience and supplemental background in several styles of dance. A decorated cheerleader at South Umpqua High, she was later on the sidelines when the Raider football team played for the NAIA national championship during the 2015 season in Daytona Beach, Fla.
She has been part of TNT Cheer's all-star open level-four team in Central Point for the last three years as a performer and the last two as a coach.