GREENVILLE, Pa. (July 10) -- Thiel College Head Cheer Coach Randall Burnett has announced the hiring of Kaitlyn Schmidt (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) '25 as Assistant Cheer Coach.

Schmidt brings a strong combination of leadership, cheer experience and educational excellence to the role. During her four years on the Tomcats cheer team, Schmidt served as team captain, helping lead the program to new heights and a national championship in the National Cheerleaders Assocation (NCA) College Nationals in 2023, as well as a runner-up finish in the same division in 2022. The Tomcats also logged third-place national finishes in 2024 and 2025.

"Kaitlyn was a cornerstone of our cheer program during her time as a student," Burnett said. "Her passion for the program and leadership experience will be a strong asset to our team."

Schmidt's professional experience extends beyond Thiel, having worked as staff for the NCA, where she led instructional camps and coordinated team-building activities with athletes from across the region. She also served as an assistant instructor at M&M Dance Academy in Monroeville, Pa.

"I'm incredibly excited and honored to return to Thiel in this role," Schmidt said. "I look forward to helping our student-athletes grow not just in their sport, but as leaders and individuals."

In addition to her athletic background, Schmidt holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with a Secondary Education Certificate. She was recently hired as a high school math teacher at Mercer High School. She was a standout student in the Dietrich Honors Institute, earning Dean's List honors for eight consecutive semesters.