PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Chatham University is adding a new intercollegiate sport to its roster of athletic opportunities for student-athletes. Athletics will be adding competitive cheer beginning fall of 2025, Vice President of Athletics & Recreation Leonard Trevino announced. 

"I'm excited to take our cheerleading program to another level with competitive cheer," stated Trevino. "This is a big addition for our department and our university. We have wanted to continue the growth of Athletics, and competitive cheer is the perfect way to do that. Cheerleading brings together the Chatham community and an unmatched energy to campus." 

The Cougars now have 23 intercollegiate sports. Cheerleading will move from a game day only club sport to a competitive one while still maintaining game day cheer at volleyball and basketball games. Competitive cheer will be a co-ed sport and begin competition in the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA). 

The team will continue to be led by head coach Hayley Butler. "I have huge plans to put us on the map as an elite competitor, I'm looking forward to getting started," Butler said. 

The search for future Cougar cheerleaders is on!