Texas State Athletics

Jocelyn Stephens is in her sixth season at Texas State as the Spirit Program Coordinator and Head Cheerleading Coach. Before coming to Texas State, Stephens was the head cheer coach at Drexel University (2016-2017).
 
In 2022, Stephens led the Spirit Program back onto the sidelines following the restrictions of COVID-19 for all home volleyball, basketball, and football games. Stephens took the All Girl team and All Girl Group Stunt qualifier to compete in Orlando, Fla. at UCA College Nationals, where the All Girl team finished 10th place in the All Girl D1A division and the Group Stunt finished in 3rd behind Stephens' alma mater, Morehead State, who took 1st and 2nd. It was the highest finish Texas State cheer has placed in the category while the group, Maryssa, Alex, Maddy, and Brittainy, competed a new skill for the program. 
 
In 2021, Stephens led the All Girl and Coed Game Day teams to compete at UCA College Nationals and Boko made a return to the Mascot Division in the UCA College Virtual Championship. Boko placed 2nd and the Game Day team finished in 6th place. The All Girl team was announced top-three and welcomed to the champion circle for ESPN awards coverage and placed 3rd in the nation. The routine was highlighted on the UCA All Girl D1A Championship recap on ESPNU and ESPN2 the months to follow. Additionally, All Girl Partner Stunt Group qualified for NCA College Nationals, but do to COVID-19 travel policies the group was unable to attend the live final competition.
 
In 2020, Stephens led the Spirit Program to UCA College Nationals to compete in three categories: All Girl Group Stunt, All Girl D1A, and Coed D1A Game Day. Competing in the Game Day division was a program first while the Coed team went back to UCA Nationals for the first time since 2011. The Game Day squad was a combination of Coed and All Girl members and Boko, and it placed 8th in the nation among 20 teams in the finals. The All Girl Group Stunt qualified to compete at Nationals following a video audition in November 2019 and was ranked 7th in the nation while in Orlando. The All Girl Group stunt also qualified for NCA College Nationals, a program first, but the event was forced to cancel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
In 2019, Stephens led the All Girl Squad to UCA College Nationals. Their semifinals routine secured a spot in the top ten of the competition moving them through to finals, which the team had not captured in 10 years. In final competition, the All Girl Squad was ranked 9th in the nation in one of the most competitive divisions at the event.

A South Jersey native, Stephens has been in the cheerleading industry for over 15 years. Stephens has been an instructor for UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association) for eight years and is involved with Core Staff, College Staff, and International Staff. Through UCA Stephens has traveled internationally and across the United States for coaches conferences and camps to introduce the most up to date skills, knowledge, and values of cheerleading and spirit leading. Stephens has also judged multiple regional and national competitions for All Star and High School Cheerleading. 
 
Stephens graduated from Morehead State in May 2016 with a bachelor's in strategic communication and leadership. During her four years at MSU, she was a member of the All Girl Cheerleading team. Stephens was a part of the first All Girl 3-Peat for Morehead State All Girl winning back-to-back-to-back UCA College National Championships in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Stephens was also a selected member of the USA National Team in 2015 and 2016; claiming two gold medals in the All Girl Premier division at the International Cheer Union Championship.