Every sports team needs a coach. The Morningside Cheer Team is no different. This is why Dakota VanHauen is so important to Morningside family. 

Dakota VanHauen, a Midland University graduate, named Morningside’s head coach in June of 2019. VanHauen has tons of experience in the cheer world. He himself cheered for seven years and has been a cheer coach for one year before becoming head coach. Even before cheering at Midland University, Dakota was a member of the Iowa Central Community College Cheer team for two years.

No one knows VanHauen better than his husband, Benjamin Kenobbie. When asked about Dakota’s passion for the sport, Ben immediately had so much to say. “Dakota doesn’t stop talking about cheer, even at home. There are times I have to remind him that it is okay to take a break,” Ben explained. 

VanHauen has thoroughly his years coaching at Morningside so far and plans to continue coaching for a while. “Each year, as I become more comfortable and confident as a coach, it just gets better and better,” he explained. 

Being a cheer coach, Dakota deals with many athletes and has the opportunity to share his knowledge with them. Dakota recruits cheerleaders with a range of abilities and past experience. Claire Sells, a sophomore cheerleader, came to the Morningside Cheer Team with little stunting experience and Dakota has been able to teach her tons of new skills. “My high school never really did any stunting and I have really enjoyed getting to learn to do all the cool things you typically see cheerleaders doing. Dakota has been a great teacher and is always willing to step in and help if we aren’t getting something,” Claire said.

Being one of the only male coaches in the GPAC Conference doesn’t change anything for VanHauen. Just because he is a male doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the same knowledge and expertise that other female coaches have. Dakota actually won GPAC Coach of the Year in 2021.