(All Photos Courtesy of Sydnee Horstman)

After 14 years, Danelle Langeneckert, the cheer and dance coach at St. Ambrose University, is stepping away from the program. Those around her say she has made an immense and lasting impact on not just the program but the athletes themselves. 

Langeneckert came to SAU as the dance coach in 2010. In 2017, she became the school’s spirit coach, taking control of both the dance and cheer programs.

She led the dance team to NAIA Dance National Invitational Championships in 2015 and 2016. She coached the dance team to its first NAIA Championship in 2018. In more recent years, the dance team won again in 2021 and then back-to-back in 2023 and 2024. 

The SAU Cheer Team won its first NAIA Championship in 2023 as St. Ambrose became the first school to win both competitive cheer and dance titles in the same year. The Bees repeated the feat with the Cheer Team winning its second national title this year.

SAU Director of Athletics, Mike Holmes says, “She has put both programs in positions of strength in every conceivable way.”

She was named the 2023 NAIA Competitive Cheer Coach of the Year and is a three-time NAIA National Competitive Dance Coach of the Year, and is widely considered one of the best cheer and dance coaches in the NAIA.

Langeneckert says some keys to her success are a strong hard work ethic paired with a positive attitude.

She adds, “Coaching has been more than just a job for me. I truly have a passion for the sports of cheer and dance, and I wholeheartedly care about my athletes. I think when you have a combination of those two things, you will not fail.”

Senior Austyn Goodale says, “Her attention to detail makes her untouchable in the NAIA. At practices, we would do the same 15 seconds of our routine over and over again until it was perfect. When other coaches would have let their athletes be done for the day, she would push us just a little bit further.” 

Her athletes say she has had a large and lasting impact on them.

“She constantly pushed us all to be better. She made me want to be better and push myself further than I thought I could go,” says Haley Scholbrock, a freshman on the cheer team.

Sophomore Savannah Schumacher echoes that sentiment, saying, “She has truly shaped the athlete I am today. Without her, I wouldn’t be in the position I am. I am so glad that she saw my potential and pushed me to where I am today.”

Goodale adds, “Danelle has made St. Ambrose feel like home. She has never failed to make me feel important and loved and has taught me so many life skills. She pushed me to be better not only in cheer but also in the classroom.”

Through her 14 years of coaching at SAU Langeneckert says she has made many great memories, not just the big accomplishments but also the small things. 

She shares, “Obviously every National Championship is a core memory infused in my heart, but I will also just miss the daily grind and watching the team hit the small goals at practice day in and day out, the long bus rides, gas station breaks, hotel stays with the team, bad coffee on the road, and the intensity of competing. When I look back, it was all fun!”

Scholbrock adds, “One of my favorite memories of her would be when she told us at nationals that no matter what happened, she was proud of this team.”

Langeneckert says she is stepping away to spend more time with her family, sharing, “Nights and weekends with my husband and kids are so precious. I will miss the program, and my athletes, and coaches terribly, but I am also really looking forward to being able to spend more time at home with my family.” 

Those on the cheer and dance teams say they will miss their coach dearly.

“Danelle is unlike any other coach I’ve ever had. She is truly so amazing, thoughtful, funny and passionate. Losing her is hard and we will definitely miss her,” says Schumacher.

When asked what she will miss the most, coach Langeneckert simply said, “The people.”

While losing such an esteemed and accomplished coach is hard, both the cheer and dance teams are ready to continue their success. 

Schumacher says, “Losing Danelle is tough but I think that the passion that the team has and the path that Danelle has paved will set us up for future success, though. I fully trust the new staff and hope that we can continue to build on everything Danelle has done as a coach.”

Goodale agrees, “The next year will definitely look different without Danelle, but they will still be just as successful.”

Alex Newenham will be promoted to head cheer coach. She previously served as the spirit squad coordinator and assistant cheer coach

The new head dance coach has yet to be named.