Bio

Holli Gurnee begins her third year as Head Coach of the Co-Ed Cheer Squad and Tigerette Dance Team. She is a proud graduate of Cowley College and holds a degree in Elementary Education from Southwestern College. Gurnee was a former assistant cheer and dance coach at Cowley and a former NCA Cheer Camp instructor.  

Originally from Arkansas City, Coach Gurnee’s cheer and dance experience started as an Advanced Cheer Crew and Ark City Dance member. She went on to cheer and dance at Ark City High School and Cheer Eclipse.  

She went beyond the limits and continued her cheer and dance career as a member of the Cowley College Spirit Squad and the Kansas Wesleyan University cheer and dance teams. She also competed at the NCA Cheer Nationals and Cheer Ltd. Nationals.  

In her first year as the head coach, Gurnee and Burke led the Co-Ed Cheer Squad to a second-place finish in the 2024 Region VI championship and the 2024 College Classic Nationals. Tank the Tiger received a National Championship title in the 2024 College Classic Nationals. Gurnee led the Tigerettes Dance team to a National Championship title in the 2024 College Classic Nationals.   

In her second year, Gurnee and Burke led the Co-Ed Cheer Squad to a Region Championship in the 2025 Region VI Championship, and a second-place finish in the 2025 DTU The College Classic Nationals. Gurnee led the Tigerettes to a second-place finish at the Region VI Championship, a second-place finish in Hip Hop at DTU The College Classic Nationals, and a fourth-place finish in Pom at DTU The College Classic Nationals.   

As the assistant coach, Gurnee and Lindsay Sanderholm led the Co-Ed Cheer Squad to first place at the 2021 Region IV championship and second place at the College Classic Nationals. They also led the Tigerette Dance team to first place at the 2021 Region IV championship and second place at the College Classic Nationals. Tank the Tiger also placed first place at the 2021 College Classic Nationals.  

As head cheer and dance coach, Gurnee will use her knowledge of cheer and dance to support the Tigers and create leaders in our community. She plans to continue the winning tradition of the Tiger Spirit Squad and is excited to be able to share her passion for cheer and dance in her hometown.  

Gurnee and her husband, Josh, have a six-year-old daughter, Presley.