‘Epitome of professionalism.’ Current, former UK cheerleaders defend fired coaches
Current and former University of Kentucky cheerleaders have voiced support for their coaches after four were fired Monday as a result of a university investigation into hazing, nudity and drinking.
Head coach Jomo Thompson and assistant coaches Ben Head, Spencer Clan and Kelsey LaCroix were dismissed over the findings in UK’s investigation, the school announced Monday. Thompson and his staff had led UK to four consecutive national championships from 2016-19, and the squad has a national reputation for performing at top levels for many more years.
UK said it determined that Thompson and his assistants “knew or reasonably should have known” about the athletes’ conduct, and they did not address it properly after finding out about it.
“The coaches never did anything but try to help us grow, make us better people and prepare us for the real world,” former cheerleader Jaxson Hayes told the Herald-Leader Monday. He suffered a knee injury and left the university after the first semester of the 2019-20 school year. “We’re all human and college students at that ... most of everything in any article I’ve read is over exaggerated by one parent who really doesn’t know anything. But the coaches aren’t the ones to blame.”
Jake Graham, a sophomore on the 2019-20 team, called Thompson “the top cheerleading coach in the world.”
“I wanted to be coached by Jomo Thompson,” Graham said. “He is a legend in the cheerleading world.”
“A lot of the allegations were grossly, grossly over exaggerated and some of them were just blatant lies,” Graham said of the investigation.
Others also criticized the accusations.
“This program is the epitome of professionalism,” Riley Aguiar, a senior in the 2019-20 class, said in a tweet. “It’s not only made me a better athlete, but also a much better person. This greatly affects myself and my teammates who have worked our whole lives to get to this university/team. Please don’t feed into lies that are hurting us.”
One member of the team pointed out what coaches have done for team members.
“I stand for programs and institutions that ingrain positive lifelong values into my character,” Chas Welte, a junior on the 2019-20 team, said in a tweet. “The University of Kentucky has done just that, let alone the program I have dedicated and sacrificed for during the last four of my twelve years cheerleading.”
Welte said his coaches helped him get a scholarship that would allow him to get two degrees. He said the coaches offered out-of-state students who were struggling to pay tuition the chance to coach young cheerleaders.
UK said its investigation found that two coaching staff members employed student-athletes at their gymnastics businesses, which was considered a potential conflict of interest.
“The University of Kentucky is swift in responding to statements made about the university institution — which is absolutely understandable and invited,” Welte said. “But I will assert that we should stand up for those we are certain are genuinely class-act, selfless individuals. It’s discouraging to see people removed from their dedicated positions despite rehearsing admirable principles that were instilled among countless student-athletes.”
Allie Law, a senior on the 2019-20 team, said the program is top tier.
“This program has been nothing besides outstanding & produces outstanding people because of the guidance our coaches provided for us,” she said in a tweet. “I pray people don’t give in to lies that went too far.”
Former athletes also publicly defended the staff.
“This isn’t right,” former cheerleader Ezekiel Robertson said in a tweet. “The coaches for the Kentucky Cheer program have always been professionals and have never pressured any athletes into misconduct!”
Another former team member said he’d give up his national titles to keep the staff from being fired.
“When I tell you my heart BREAKS for my coaches,” former cheerleader Kyle Steele said in a tweet. “These people did EVERYTHING they could to shape the future for people’s lives OUTSIDE OF CHEERLEADING !!!! That is what made them different. I’d give up all four of my rings for them to not have to go through this.”
One former team member said someone was trying to damage the program’s legacy.
“Someone’s just mad they didn’t get what they wanted and trying to destroy a legacy,” former cheerleader Jaclyn Fyffe said. “The coaches are the top in the industry and I’m proud to have” been coached by them.
This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 2:20 PM.