MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Robert Morris University has announced the hiring of Jenna Kennedy as the head coach of RMU Cheer & Dance, bringing a familiar face and extensive competitive and coaching experience back to the Colonials.
Kennedy returns to RMU after previously serving as an assistant cheerleading coach for the Colonials. In that role, she assisted with athlete development, practice planning, stunt progression and game-day preparation, while helping prepare the program for collegiate competition. She has also choreographed NCA College Nationals routines during the past two competitive seasons and traveled with the team to NCA College Nationals in Daytona Beach.
"Robert Morris and RMU Cheer have been a part of my life for six years, and being able to step into this position of leadership is a dream," Kennedy said. "These athletes work so hard every day to present clean and entertaining game-day skills at football and basketball games. The Cheer & Dance team strives to be a layer of support for the other student-athletes at this university, and we will continue to do so in the coming years. "I want to thank everyone who has helped me transition into this position, and I truly owe so much to my years as a member of the RMU Cheer team. It made me who I am today and prepared me to step up and help this team progress. Let's Go Bobby Mo!"
Kennedy brings more than a decade of competitive and coaching experience to the position. Before joining the RMU coaching staff, she competed for six years with Cheer Athletics Pittsburgh, one of the nation's premier all-star cheerleading programs. During her time with Cheer Athletics, Kennedy earned a fourth-place finish at The Cheerleading Worlds Championship while gaining extensive experience in advanced stunting, tumbling, performance execution and competitive preparation.
A former RMU student-athlete, Kennedy was a four-year member of the Colonials Cheerleading program from 2020-24 and served as team captain during her senior season. As a student-athlete, she helped foster team culture, athlete accountability, and communication between the team and coaching staff while representing the university at athletic and community events.
In addition to her collegiate experience, Kennedy has coached at Cheer Athletics Pittsburgh as a cheerleading coach and tumbling instructor. She has provided individualized instruction to athletes of varying skill levels, developed training plans focused on technique and performance, and emphasized safety and proper skill progression. She has also coached and mentored a Mini Level 1 competitive team, focusing on foundational cheer, tumbling, teamwork, and sportsmanship.
Kennedy earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Robert Morris University in 2024. Her professional background also includes experience in accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, organizational planning and cross-departmental coordination — skills that complement her coaching and administrative responsibilities within collegiate athletics.
"We're thrilled to welcome Jenna Kennedy to the RMU Athletics family," said Stephen Morrison, Associate Athletic Director for Marketing and Fan Experience. "Her energy, expertise and passion for the sport make her the perfect fit to lead our Cheer & Dance program into its next chapter. We can't wait to see what she builds with this team."
As head coach, Kennedy will oversee all aspects of the RMU Cheer & Dance program, including athlete development, practices, competition preparation, game-day performances and the continued development of the program's culture and competitive identity.
