Long Time Cheer Sponsor Retires from Position

Kanetha Hicks no longer coaches

Pictured-+Kanetha+Hicks

Photographer- Faith Myers

Pictured- Kanetha Hicks

Cheers and sounds of beans clanking against tin cans fill the air, and each class fights to be the loudest. The band plays the school and fight songs while the Eagle Dolls dance. The cheerleaders chant on the gym floor, but someone is missing.

Kanetha Hicks, Decatur cheer coach of 7 years, recently retired from coaching at the end of last year. She’s been a key contributor to pep rallies, football games, and all types of spirit events throughout her career as cheer coach.

“I miss the relationship with the cheerleaders, but I don’t miss all the work involved,” Hicks said.

The role of cheer coach requires many after school hours for both practices and games at which the cheerleaders perform weekly. Hicks was involved in various athletic events because of cheer, and has said that as much as she enjoyed cheer, she is looking forward to the free time she now has available.

“I’m going to miss the interaction with the students, and being so involved with football, volleyball, and basketball on a different level than just a spectator,” Hicks said.

Hicks retired from the position of cheer coach because she wanted to have more time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She is grateful for the time she now has to spend with her loved ones, despite the loss of her relationship with the cheerleaders.

“I’m looking forward to my time, getting to leave school at 4 o’clock, and not having the responsibility of all the cheers. There’s a lot more to being a cheer coach than anyone knows,” Hicks said.

Even though Hicks now watches pep rallies from the stands rather than the gym floor, she’s still an integral part of DHS through her numerous academic responsibilities.