University of Tennessee Athletics
Cheer, Dance & Mascots
- Title:
- Spirit Program Director and Dance Coach
- Email:
- kelleyt@utk.edu
Updated February 2024
Tennessee Spirit Program Director Kelley Tafazzoli was promoted to oversee the entire Spirit Program—comprised of the cheer, dance, and mascot teams— in August of 2021 after a championship-laden, 15-year tenure as the program's dance coach. Tennessee dance captured seven national titles under her direction.
Tafazzoli (pronounced: taff-uh-ZO-lee) was a four-year member of the Tennessee dance team as a student, an experience that helps her provide empathetic leadership in her current role.
An early point of emphasis in Tafazzoli's tenure as Spirit Program Director was transitioning the cheer and dance teams to a recruiting model for selecting members of each squad rather than the traditional tryout model from the program's past.
"I am beyond honored to be given this opportunity to lead such a successful program of incredible student-athletes and coaches," Tafazzoli said. "I am committed to recruiting the best student-athletes we can find, who will carry on UT's great tradition of success while also reflecting the diversity of our university community."
Tafazzoli earned her degree in Nutrition from UT in 2004.
Tennessee Spirit has garnered a total of 13 national championships in its history and is the only Division I program in the nation to have won national championships with all three of its teams: cheer (2020, 2021, 2024), dance (2007, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021) and mascot (2000, 2001, 2008).
Tennessee's Spirit Program is made up of more than 75 student-athletes from 15 states. Its three teams compete annually at the UCA and UDA College National Championship and appear at more than 300 athletic and community events each year.
