Georgia Southern has a coed team and an all-girl team. They cheer at Eagles football and basketball games, lead the crowd at Paulson Stadium in the traditional “Georgia! Southern!” chant, and compete at NCA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida. Georgia Southern plays in the Sun Belt Conference.
Where the cycle stands (October 1, 2026): the tryout for the 2026-27 team was scheduled for May 16–17, 2026. Georgia Southern hasn’t posted dates or requirements for the 2027-28 tryout yet. The next chances to work with the coaches are the fall College Prep Clinics on October 11 and November 29, 2026.
The Program
- A 2026 national title. In April 2026, the all-girl squad won Georgia Southern’s ninth national championship at NCA College Nationals, in the Intermediate All-Girl IA division. It scored 95.9005 and finished ahead of 25 other teams, including Ohio State, Texas A&M and Clemson. The coed team placed fourth in Intermediate Large Coed IA.
- Championship history. Georgia Southern lists all-girl national titles in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022 and 2026, and a coed national title in 2017.
- A new head coach. Elizabeth Kicklighter was named head cheerleading coach on April 24, 2026, and started May 1. She’s a Georgia Southern alumna who captained the 2021 all-girl national championship team and was a student assistant coach for the 2022 title. She joined the coaching staff in summer 2022, then spent a year as head coach at Long Island University before returning.
Tryouts
Georgia Southern’s official tryout page is headed “Tryout Information for the 2026-2027 Cheerleading Team,” but it doesn’t list requirements, a fee, a GPA rule or skill lists. Coach Kicklighter’s hiring announcement confirmed the 2026 tryout dates of May 16 and 17. The 2027-28 dates aren’t posted yet.
For the current requirements (skills, eligibility, fees and forms), contact the coach directly (see below) and check the official tryout page.
Fall 2026 College Prep Clinics
The clinics are the best way to see what the coaches teach before tryouts:
- Dates: Sunday, October 11 or Sunday, November 29, 2026.
- Place and time: Hanner Fieldhouse. Check-in at 10:15 a.m., and the clinic runs 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
- Who can attend: ages 14 and up, from 9th grade through college.
- Cost: $75 per participant, plus an optional $25 T-shirt. To get a shirt for the November clinic, register by November 18. There’s no registration deadline for the clinic itself, and all payments are non-refundable.
- Bring to check-in: a completed participation physical form (linked from the clinic page), a copy of the front and back of your insurance card, and the signed assumption-of-risk waiver (a parent or guardian signs for anyone under 18). You can’t take part without the physical, the waiver and proof of insurance.
Details and registration are on the College Prep Clinic page.
What Georgia Southern Doesn’t Publish
The official pages don’t list a minimum skill requirement, a GPA rule, a tryout fee, scholarships or a video tryout option. Ask the coaching staff.
Coaches and Contact
Elizabeth Kicklighter is the head cheer coach. Her hiring announcement names the rest of the coaching staff as Stephanie Del Forn, Massey Warren, Katherine Brown, Abi Johnson and Drew Fulton. The Georgia Southern Athletics staff directory lists Coach Kicklighter at ekicklighter@georgiasouthern.edu. Program news is on the Georgia Southern Cheer Program page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are Georgia Southern cheer tryouts?
The 2026-27 tryout was scheduled for May 16–17, 2026. Dates for the 2027-28 tryout hadn’t been posted as of October 1, 2026.
Does Georgia Southern have an all-girl team?
Yes. It has both an all-girl team and a coed team. The all-girl team won the 2026 NCA Intermediate All-Girl IA national title.
What skills do I need?
Georgia Southern doesn’t post a current skill list. The College Prep Clinics and the coaching staff are the best sources.
Can middle schoolers attend the clinic?
No. The fall 2026 clinics are for ages 14 and up (9th grade through college).
Related Resources
- University of Georgia Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- Georgia State University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- Troy University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- All-Girl vs. Coed Cheer
- College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory
Sources: Georgia Southern University Athletics, Georgia Southern Cheer Program, Cheer Team Tryouts, Georgia Southern Cheer College Prep Clinic, “Elizabeth Kicklighter Named Head Cheerleading Coach” (2026), “Cheer Takes NCA College Nationals Title In Daytona Beach” (2026) and the Staff Directory. Last checked October 1, 2026.
