Cheerleader trades Texans for Huskies

Written by Ayla Syed
Houston Baptist University
March 8, 2012

Junior Jasmine Harding, co-captain of the cheer squad, wrinkled her eyebrows as she described the University’s team as more of a spirit squad than a competitive team.

Her furrows disappeared, however, when she mentioned the University’s new cheer director: a Houston Texans cheerleader.

“I think she can transition this team into a Division-I squad that can compete with teams from other schools,” Harding said. “Instead of being an extracurricular activity, the cheer squad can now be more of an athletic team.”

Amanda Golden, 26, was hired in mid-February to fill the vacant position and lead the squad of eight, two months before her last event as a professional cheerleader for the local National Football League team.

The squad’s last director, who oversaw many extracurricular activities as the assistant director of campus recreation, resigned from the University at the beginning of this year, leaving the squad with no coach. Golden, who starts on March 28, will serve as the first cheer director in recent years whose job is solely to work with the team.

Golden said she began applying for positions related to cheerleading this year because she thought it was her time to move on from professional cheerleading and that she found the University’s job opening listed online. “Five years is a long professional cheer career,” she said, adding that she has worked with the Texans since 2007. “I will miss performing with them, but I’m excited to begin working here.”

The Houston native began her tenure with the Texans’ squad at the age of 21 and has served as the captain for the last three years. Golden does not plan to reaffirm her position on the Texans’ squad as this year’s tryouts approach in April. She has instead begun preparing for the late-March University cheerleader tryouts that mark her official start date as a Husky and hopes to improve the campus cheer team.

“There is so much potential in the cheerleaders now,” she said. “They are so eager to learn. I want to help them strengthen their team.”

Golden plans to incorporate many aspects of professional cheerleading, such as rules similar to those she follows on the Texans’ squad, into her work at the University with the goal of building a competitive team. The squad does not currently participate in competitions.

Harding said she and Golden have the same vision for the future of the cheer squad as a competitive team and that she looks forward to working with the new coach. “It’s been tough without a director,” Harding said. “I’ve been cheering for 10 years but still need a coach whom I can turn to for help.”

Golden began taking dance classes at the age of 2 and cheering at the age of 12, leading up to the start of her Texans career. She continued her education while cheering professionally, graduating from the University of Houston-Clear Lake in 2009. She then began a part-time job as a commercial coordinator for Helix Energy Solutions Group, a Houston-based oil and gas company, where she will continue to work part time while coaching the Huskies.

Whit Goodwin, director of Student Life, who hired Golden, said her background and experience will benefit the University team.

“Her experience on the Texans’ squad will help bring a better work ethic and level of professionalism to the squad,” he said