Lori Townsend is entering her 14th year as head coach of the Royals Cheerleaders. Under her direction, the program has transitioned from a club sport to being recognized by the University as an athletic team. Townsend introduced the program to competition in 2005, and in the last 14 years the Royals have celebrated three first place finishes, second and eighth place finishes in both regional and national competitions. The Royals received their first, of two back-to-back bids to the NCA Collegiate Nationals in 2011-12, where they placed fifth in the All-Girl II division that year.
“The last several years we have been very strategic about making selections that will further the growth of our program. From selecting the coaching staff to the recruitment of new student-athletes, the “big picture” of how far this program can go is always at the heart of decisions that are made. Queens has provided us with the resources to truly strive for greatness, and our student-athletes do just that,” Coach Townsend shared.
The Royals Cheerleading program also takes great pride in their role as serving as a "face of the University" by participating in numerous campus and greater Charlotte-area events throughout the year. Under Townsend's leadership, the program has also worked diligently to truly live the Queens motto, "Non ministrari sed ministrare" ("Not to be served, but to serve"). "By incorporating meaningful and relevant service projects into their schedule, our student-athletes are given the incredible privilege of recognizing their many blessings, and have the opportunity to use their gifts to better the lives and experiences of others," Townsend says of the team's charitable work.
Townsend cheered for over fifteen years, and then began her coaching career. She retired from coaching the varsity team at a local high school in 2012, after a successful twelve year career. During that time, Townsend also served as the Conference Sport Chair for cheer and dance, overseeing the adherence of conference rules among the participating schools, in addition to establishing and leading the All-Conference selection process for cheer and dance.
She is a native of Knoxville, Tenn., and a 2001 graduate of Queens College (now Queens University of Charlotte) with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Then again in 2015, Townsend graduated from Queens with a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership. In addition to coaching the Royals, Townsend teaches at an independent school in the south Charlotte area and spends time volunteering for local charitable organizations.
