Coaching at Ouachita was never on the radar for new cheer coach, Leslie Allen, yet here she is and her new home here in Arkadelphia is quite a shift from where she comes from.
“I came from a highly impacted area, the county that I moved from, Orange County in California, has more people than the entire state of Arkansas,” Allen said.
Allen has a cousin that is a professor at Ouachita, Dr. Kathy Collins, assistant professor of education. For many years, she would talk about how incredible Ouachita is by sending pictures and keeping Allen informed about the university.
Born a Texan, Allen was no stranger to the Southern life. However she spent most of her life growing up in Orange County, California. When the opportunity arose to come coach at Ouachita though, Allen decided to take it.
“The Lord brought us [to Arkadelphia],” Allen said. “My husband and I thought it would be a good time in our lives to make a move back to the South. The kids have grown up and moved on and it was time to come back.”
Cheer has been a part of life for Allen since her junior high school years. When Allen attended Baylor as a student, she and her sister even developed a “pom squad,” and it was at Baylor that Allen met her husband.
After 15 years of coaching junior high and high school teams, Allen begins her 16th year as a first time college coach here at Ouachita. In her years of coaching, stunting and tumbling are her areas of expertise. With that, Allen is looking to give the Cheerleading squad a fresh look by staying somewhat traditional but incorporating more stunting.
Sophomore Amanda Abbud talks squad changes with Online Editor Anna Kumpuris.
Getting a fresh look comes with a price. One of the major changes this year is the amount of practice. Allen lives in town and strives to be more of a presence with the squad. Though more than previous years, the practice schedule is a standard college-level commitment.
“I did my homework about college teams before I came, I talked to many college coaches and researched it to make sure I was coming in with the proper amount of knowledge,” Allen said.
Transitioning from a high school squad to college squad has been good for Allen. She had been given some advice from different college coaches to let everyone know that she expects them to be adults. Being at the college level has helped with letting the squad respond like adults.
This was not Allen’s first time being the “new coach.” She was at one school for 12 years before moving to a large public school, so she completely understands that there will be a transitional period and not everyone will like the change no matter how prepared she is.
Nevertheless, the squad has been very receptive, respectful and excited about something new. The cheerleaders have aided Allen into an easier transition. However, it’s still a transition.
Freshman Rachel Dawson tells Kumpuris about how Coach Allen unifies the squad.
“Where is the gym? Why is it called SPEC?,” Allen said. The upperclassmen have really embraced Allen and been helpful to her as she transitions to life at Ouachita.
Spirit and enthusiasm are a big deal to cheerleaders. Part of Allen’s goal is to make sure they are spirited and happy.
“I told the squad that I was going to make sure whatever they did or wherever they perform, that there would be three things they will have. They will be prepared, polished and enthusiastic,” Allen said.
Competitiveness is a strong characteristic of Allen. However, a strong sideline program and reaching out to make the squad visible on campus and at games is her main priority. In doing this, they plan on increasing their level of talent to show at pep-rallies and games. From there, they can take their strengths from the school functions and incorporate them into something they can compete with.
As the year goes by, the cheerleaders gain confidence and experience. Allen has a goal for the cheer program to be one that starts to stand out, in part so the cheerleaders are recognized for their efforts and dedication.
Allen also talked of a future possibility of having a STUNT competition at Ouachita.
According to usacheer.net, “STUNT removes the crowd-leading element and focuses on the technical and athletic components of cheer, including partner stunts, pyramids, basket tosses, group jumps and tumbling.
Being a cheer coach for Allen has its rewards. The ability to work with young people and practice are some of the reasons she loves what she does. Taking a group from just normal people and watching them transition into one cohesive unit has been something that has Allen coming back year after year. Faith and coaching go hand in hand for Allen.
Senior Juliana Howard discusses how Coach Allen’s faith impacts her coaching with Kumpuris.
“I pray for the team and really anybody that is going to put on a coaches hat,” Allen said. “They are taking on a big responsibility and I don’t understand how you could coach without a faith basis.”
Allen sees coaching as a ministry no matter the sport.
“I couldn’t do it without God’s leadership. It’s challenging enough to be a coach,” Allen said. “We definitely need that Christian emphasis and faith basis.”
Story by Brent Northington, staff writer
Package by Anna Kumpuris, Online Editor, and Matthew Ablon, staff videographer
Gallery photos by Zac Baker
Head shots courtesy of Dr. Wesley Kluck
Sideline footage courtesy of Dr. David Ozmun
