Lincoln Memorial University Athletics

Coach Rhileigh Alred enters her second season as Director of Spirit Programs and head coach of the LMU Cheer team in the 2025-2026 season.

Coach Alred made history with the LMU Cheer team in her inaugural season as head coach. In their first year competing at the UCA College Nationals in January 2025, the Lady Railsplitters placed 4th in the Open All Girl Game Day Division. The weekend began with LMU competing against 19 other schools in the division, advancing to the finals after placing eighth on day one. The Lady Railsplitters finished the preliminary round with a raw score of 89.1333, but one deduction brought their score to 88.1333—just 0.4334 points behind Widener University for 7th place and 4.9334 points behind the leader, Pearl River Community College.

On day two, LMU came out strong in the finals, improving their score by nearly four points to a 92.6 with zero deductions. That performance was enough to secure fourth place in the division and marked a significant milestone for the program.

Alred was named as the Director of Spirit Programs in July 2023.   Prior to becoming head coach for LMU, Alred was a former LMU cheerleader.

She has served as a Cheer Squad Choreographer at Cawood Elementary School, Bell County Middle School, and Evarts Elementary. Additionally, Alred has gained valuable experience as a Substitute Teacher for Harlan County Schools and as a Teacher Assistant at Ellen Myers Elementary. Her involvement in various cheerleading events and competitions, including judging cheer tryouts and coaching, highlights her ongoing commitment to the field.

Alred’s exceptional dedication and achievements have earned her several honors, including membership on the All-Railsplitter Team, the Virginia Householder Memorial Art Scholarship, and the Lillian A. Ralston Art Award. She has been recognized for academic excellence with Dean’s List honors and multiple scholarships. Furthermore, Alred is a KAPOS Certified Cheerleading Judge.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art 2D from Lincoln Memorial University in 2023 and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Teaching at the University of the Cumberlands. Her dedication to both academics and the arts is a strong foundation for her continued success in this leadership role.