NOTE: One in a series of pieces written by Oklahoma Christian's head coaches, explaining in their own voice why they do what they do. Susan Jones is OC's cheer coach. 

OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 30, 2020) – When asked the question "Why I Coach?" my mind goes in several directions.

I feel like I've done it for so long, I can't imagine not doing it. My love for cheering started back when I was a little girl. I attended my first Oklahoma State football game when I was in the third grade. I was sitting with my parents and when I saw the cheerleaders tumble onto the field, I pointed at them and said, "That's what I want to do!"

I knew with lots of hard work and with parents that constantly encouraged and supported me that I could achieve this goal. Ten years later, I tumbled onto that same field and performed the fight song right in front of my parents' seats. I felt such a sense of accomplishment and pride that I wanted to help other girls feel that, too.

My first cheer coaching job was with a young lady from Cushing. I was coaching her private lessons while I was in college – for extra money. After that experience, I was hooked! But this time, it was for different reasons. Building confidence and watching the athlete's progress in their skills was exciting. Motivating them to practice and teaching them that their hard work would pay off, not only in cheerleading, but in every aspect of their life. I went on to coach elementary, middle school, high school, all-star and college teams.

My coaching philosophy has been to always say something positive before making corrections. I wanted the athletes to know that their efforts were recognized before pointing out the things they needed to work on. This instilled a level of respect that every athlete should feel. Then, after the months and sometimes years of training, I would get a phone call. To hear the joy in their voices that they had made their school cheer team was exhilarating. I knew exactly how they felt.

Cheerleading is one of those sports – and yes these women and men are athletes – that can bring you great joy, but can also bring you great disappointment! I would love to say that the 10 years between third grade and my freshman year in college were all great, but they weren't. One year in middle school and one year in high school (for various reasons) I did not make the cheer team. I was devastated!! Didn't GOD know that it was my dream to cheer in college and that I wanted it more than those other girls?

What I didn't know was that GOD was preparing me for the greater disappointments that would come later in my life. He knew what I needed and when I needed it. As it states in Matthew 6:8, "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." This is also something that I share with my athletes. There will be times that we question why things happen to us – but GOD'S plan is always better than ours.

I was blessed to make the cheer squad all four years at OSU (where I was one of the inventors of the Pistols Firing) and fulfill my dream. Cheering in the Disney on Parade and in the Houston Astrodome were just a few of the highlights of my time at OSU. I feel blessed now that the OC athletic department has given me the opportunity to coach these amazing young women and men.

My goal is to make their time here as meaningful and positive as possible, while instilling Christian values and morals. I want them to make such great memories promoting school spirit and supporting the OC athletes that they won't want to forget their experience as a member of the OC cheer team.