BETHANY, Okla.—Southern Nazarene is proud to announce that Head Cheer and STUNT the Sport coach, Angela Hamilton, has moved into a full-time coaching role with SNU.
Hamilton was named Head Coach of Southern Nazarene's cheer program in May of 2023. The following fall, she was also named head coach of SNU's brand new STUNT the Sport program. Her fresh enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge has been instrumental in shaping the future of SNU cheer and STUNT.
SNU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Danny Thomason, said, ""When Angela Hamilton decided to accept the SNU Cheer Head Coach position followed shortly by the SNU STUNT the Sport Head Coach position, it signaled a new era! She has been fantastic in such a short amount of time and now the programs, and more important student-athletes, will benefit greatly to have her full-time!"
Coach Hamilton came to Southern Nazarene in July of 2022 as an assistant cheerleading coach under Coach Ashly Armstrong. Together with Coach Angie Milford and Coach Robby Patton, they took the team to the university's first cheerleading competition in Garland, Texas, where they placed first in the College Gameday Division.
In May of 2023, SNU announced the addition of STUNT the Sport, the 22nd varsity sport. Under the leadership of Hamilton, the program brought in 18 new athletes to form the first STUNT team. Fast forward to February 1, 2024, SNU STUNT team took the mat for their first tournament and swept all four games for their first successes of the season. The team had a great 4-7 inaugural season.
Coach Hamilton said, "Along with my assistant coaches, we want to grow a team that is strong athletically but also spiritually. Athletics is what many of these athletes have come to SNU to pursue, but the team goal is to also have a solid relationship with Jesus.
The cheer team will attend NCA camp later this month with a goal of receiving a bid to compete in Daytona, FL, in the spring of '25 for the first time in SNU cheer history. "We are building both a strong cheer team and STUNT team. We know that if we want to continue to bring solid athletes to SNU we have to offer more and be competitive with other college programs" said Hamilton.
Hamilton's philosophy centers around building not just skill, but also character and teamwork. She emphasizes safety, precision and the power of a positive mindset, which has led her teams to exceed their own expectations. Under her guidance, SNU's cheerleaders are not only mastering complex stunts, but also developing the confidence and discipline necessary for both competitive success and personal growth.
Prior to coming to Southern Nazarene University, Coach Hamilton has given private cheer lessons and worked as a hairstylist for 18 years. She is married to her husband, SNU alumni, Eric. They have two children, Lainey and Asher. Angela and her family enjoy the outdoors, including camping and hiking. They are also big Disney fans.
