Carrie Nichols became the head cheerleading coach in the fall of 2002.   Under Nichols, the Lindenwood program has grown to be one of the largest and most successful programs in the country, always promoting the university in a positive way at school events while achieving national recognition on the competition floor.

She led the team to its first ever national cheerleading title in 2011, winning the NAIA Small Coed crown at the NCA/NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Team Championships.  The team won its second national title in 2015 by capturing the Large Coed Cheer Division II Championship, and went back-to-back with the Small Coed Division II crown in 2016.

Prior to the University moving to NCAA DII, the cheer teams won 12 Heart of American Athletic Conference titles from 2003 to 2011 between the Coed and All-Girl squads.  Since 2003, 29 different competing teams have performed at NCA Nationals, resulting in 20 top five finishes, along with another nine top 10 results.  During her tenure, the program has expanded from one competition team to three national competitive teams, plus an additional sideline cheer squad. 

Nichols began her cheerleading competition career at Rosary High School where she was named a National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) All-American and was selected to travel to Hawaii to perform in the Aloha Bowl. Nichols continued her cheerleading career at Northwest Missouri State University where she earned All-American honors and competed at the NCA college national championship multiple times, placing in the top five in every appearance.

In 1994, Nichols began working for the NCA as a camp instructor and was named top rookie instructor her first year and veteran instructor throughout her years as an instructor and head instructor. She taught in the Francis Howell School District for five years and became the head cheerleading coach at Francis Howell High School where she led the Vikings program to its best finish in the Missouri state competition in 2001.

Carrie is married to Pat Nichols and has three children: Hailey, Colin, and Carson. She currently works full time for the NCA as a state director where she oversees camps and competitions in the Midwest. She is AACCA certified at the college level and holds several personal training and group fitness certificates as well.

Carrie earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Physical Education from Northwest Missouri State University.

May 2016