Coaches

Kristin Libby
Head Spirit Squad Coach
573-579-7047
libbyk@wmpenn.edu
Gymnasium

Kristin Libby is entering her second year as the head spirit squad coach at William Penn, after taking over the reins of both the competitive dance and cheerleading programs.

She is currently working in several areas, most notably as a state director on the National Council on Spirit Safety and Education, serving the state of Iowa. As a state director, Libby is responsible for instructing safety-training programs for both cheerleading and dance coaches. She also instructs all safety certification courses for high school and college coaches. Libby has a master level certification through the NCSSE.

Libby is also a national director, former camp instructor, and judge for Cheer LTD, a cheerleading and dance company out of Fayetteville, N.C.  She also serves as a competition and safety judge for several companies including Cheerleaders of America (COA), Cheersport, and United Performing Association (UPA) to name a few.  Kristin also coached the competition squad at Brookfield High School (Mo.) in 2004.

Libby is a 2003 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University where she earned a Bachelor of General Studies degree with an emphasis in Physical Education.  While in college, she was a four-year varsity member of the co-ed cheerleading squad with two years at Southeast Missouri State University and two years at Missouri Western State University.

Libby completed her Master's of Education degree in Athletic and Activity Administration from William Woods University (Mo.) in 2006.  Kristin is also the Wellness Director at the Ottumwa YMCA.  She currently resides in Ottumwa with her husband Matt and their two dogs Simba and Remington.

---

Rachael Beard
Assistant Spirit Squad Coach
673-1064
beardr@wmpenn.edu
Gymnasium

Rachael Beard is entering her second year as the assistant spirit squad coach at William Penn.

Beard's most recent coaching position was as the head cheerleading coach at her alma mater, Southeast Missouri State University, coaching the all-girl squad and the co-ed squad from 2004-2005.

She cheered at SEMO while completing a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 2003.  As a member of the program, Beard earned Most Valuable Cheerleader honors and was named Squad Captain twice.  She was also selected as an NCA College All-American in 2001.  Beard then went on to cheer for the University of Missouri co-ed squad from 2005-2006.  She also judges for numerous cheerleading companies, including Cheerleaders of America (COA) and Cheer Ltd.  She is also the Missouri State Director for the NCSSE.

Beard is currently working on her PhD in nursing with an emphasis in exercise physiology at MU.  She is also an instructor for the Physical Education Department at William Penn.  Beard currently resides in Ottumwa with her husband Jared and their dogs Lucy and Walter.