Golden Knights Cheerleading Coaches
Head Coach - Howard Peterson
Howard Peterson is in his second year as head coach of the West Georgia Technical College cheerleading team.
Peterson began his cheerleading career as a senior at Abbeville High School where he served as the school mascot, a Panther during football season, and as a regular cheerleader during basketball season. He was voted Most School Spirit and graduated with honors in May of 1977.
Howard went on to attend Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC for three years where he served as a football cheerleader for two years and basketball cheerleader for all three years. He served as co-captain of the co-ed basketball squad in 1978, and captain in 1979, earning a letterman’s jacket in 1979. He then transferred to Lander College in Greenwood, SC where he continued to cheer during his senior year. During that senior year he was voted Most School Spirited, Outstanding Young Men of America, Who’s Who in America Colleges and Universities, and to Blue Key National Honor Fraternity, graduating again with honors. He received a BS degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics in 1982.
Following graduation he taught summer camps and served as an administrator for Golden Eagle Cheerleader Clinics, out of Roanoke, VA, at various colleges around the country. In 1983 Howard began working with the varsity football cheerleaders at Abbeville High School and continued as the Assistant Coach until his relocation to Atlanta in 1989. In addition, Howard has organized and coached the varsity basketball cheerleaders at John de la Howe School, South Carolina’s Children Home from 1984-1988.
In October of 1999, Howard joined the Executive Board of the National Black College Cheerleader and Dance Team Championships. This organization sponsors a college competition for cheerleaders and dance teams from predominately black colleges and universities from around the country in Atlanta, GA.
Howard is a former employee of the Internal Revenue Service where he worked as a Revenue Officer until his retirement in November 2004 with fifteen years of service.
Cheerleading Assistant Coach – Tiesha Chappell
Tiesha Chappell was born and raised in Ashland, Alabama. She started her cheerleading career at the age of 6, participating in programs including Pee Wee and Jr. B cheerleading. She was also a cheerleader during her six years in high school. She was selected as an All-star/All-American cheerleader four years in a row, 9-12th grade.
Tiesha taught herself to tumble in the 7th grade and started taking gymnastics during her junior year in high school. She was Captain of the varsity cheerleading squad during her senior year. At camp, during her senior year, she received an application to be on the Universal Cheerleaders Association staff. She graduated in 2005 from Clay County High School.
Tiesha attended Southern Union State Community College in Wadley, Alabama from June 2005 to August 2007. While there, she was a cheerleader and also Captain during her second year. Throughout her first year at Southern Union, Tiesha became a private gymnastics coach. She also began choreographing cheerleading dances for squads. She has also taught stunt and cheer clinics. In addition, Tiesha started judging many cheerleading tryouts. During her second year, the Southern Union team became a competition squad. At Southern Union, she received the Best Jump Award and Best Tumbling Award in the 2005-2006 year. She received the Best Tumbling Award in the 2006-2007 year as well. Tiesha graduated from Southern Union State Community College in 2007 with an Associate’s Degree in Science.
Tiesha then transferred to Jacksonville State University studying Psychology and Child Development. In 2007 she began working at a local gym teaching gymnastics. At this time, she also continued her private gymnastics coaching. She cheered at Jacksonville State on the large co-ed squad from August 2007 to February 2010. Tiesha graduated from Jacksonville State University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology on April 29, 2011. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in School Counseling. She is a member of Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority, Inc., as well as Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, Inc.
Tiesha has 17 years of cheerleading experience. She has been teaching tumbling, choreographing, conducting stunt clinics, hosting cheer clinics, and judging tryouts for almost 12 years. Tiesha is currently employed at the Young Men’s Christian Association in Anniston, Alabama. She now resides in Jacksonville, Alabama.