Meet the Coach: Crystal Dennison, Cheer
Crystal Dennison is in her second year coaching at Penn State Schuylkill, bringing nine years of experience and a passion that started when she coached her daughter’s youth team. What began as a volunteer role has turned into a journey filled with growth, success, and a deep love for cheer.
Crystal Dennison's journey into coaching began when her daughter started cheerleading with a local youth program. "They needed volunteers, and I thought it would be something fun to do with her," Crystal recalls. Nine years later, she says, "It was the best decision we ever made. Cheerleading taught us so many things, helped us both grow, and introduced us to many new friends."
Now in her first year coaching at PSU Schuylkill and with nine years of cheer coaching experience overall, Crystal has led teams to multiple first-place trophies in categories like Hello, Chant, Hometown, and Dance, culminating in a clean sweep of first place and Grand Champion in the 2024 season.
When the opportunity to coach at PSU Schuylkill arose, Crystal was eager to apply. "I'm passionate about contributing to the growth of the cheer program and providing athletes with an enriching and memorable college experience."
Looking ahead, she's excited about the upcoming season. "We plan to incorporate stunting and tumbling into our routines, host our very first cheer camp this December, and create themed game days to encourage everyone to join in the fun. Most importantly, we want everyone to have an amazing time."
For Crystal, the qualities she values most in her cheerleaders are commitment, dependability, team support, spirit, openness to learning, and strong academics.
One of her favorite coaching memories is with the GWA Jr Warriors A team. "We could have placed in the top three with a simpler routine, but these girls chose to challenge themselves with higher stunting and intense choreography. Watching everything come together was amazing. They didn't just win trophies that year—they gained confidence and a real sense of accomplishment."
A fun fact that players might not know is that Crystal competes on a Competition Parent Cheer Team with Master Athletics Elite at Wildwood, New Jersey, every Mother's Day weekend.
Her advice to athletes is simple but heartfelt: "Balancing school, sports, and life is challenging. Practice self-care, find positives in tough times, and don't hesitate to use campus resources or reach out to coaches and professors. We're all here to support you and want to see you succeed on and off the field."
Crystal says everyone at PSU Schuylkill is welcoming and supportive. "The Schuylkill family is super kind and always ready to help make your time here truly memorable."
