North Texas Cheer is the cheer program of the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton, whose Mean Green teams play in the American Conference. The program is run by UNT’s Student Activities Center, not the athletics website, so its tryout information lives on the North Texas Cheer Clinics/Tryouts page. UNT fields two equal squads, Small Coed and All Girl. Both practice together, cheer at every football game, and compete together at NCA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida.
UNT picks its team in two rounds: an online recruitment application with a skills video, then an invitation-only live tryout.
Where the Cycle Stands (October 1, 2026)
The 2026-27 process is finished, and UNT hasn’t posted 2027-28 dates. The recruitment application form currently says it’s unavailable. The next step you can take now is a fall clinic:
- Fall 2026 clinics: October 11 and November 21.
- October 11 Recruitment Clinic: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., $60, for high school students (grades 9–12) and current college students. The registration form also offers a $150 Recruitment Weekend package for October 10–11 that adds the recruitment game on October 10.
- Location: the Volleyball Gym, 1536 S. Bonnie Brae St., Building H.
- What to wear: high school seniors wear green, juniors and younger wear white, and college students wear black.
Register through the link on the Clinics/Tryouts page. Clinics aren’t mandatory, but UNT “highly recommends” them, and notes from clinics may be considered at tryouts.
How the Process Worked for 2026-27
- Get accepted to UNT. You must be formally accepted to the university to be eligible.
- Submit the recruitment application and video by the deadline. For 2026-27 it was April 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT. You upload the video privately (for example, a private YouTube or Dropbox link) and paste the link into the form.
- Wait for an invitation. For 2026-27, invitations to the live tryout went out by April 28.
- Attend the live tryout. For 2026-27, it was held May 9–10, 2026.
Everyone tries out for the program as a whole. After final cuts, UNT announces who is on the All Girl and Coed squads. The day after tryouts there’s a parent meeting, a practice and a uniform fitting.
Eligibility
- Accepted to UNT before tryouts. High school seniors can audition if they’re accepted by the tryout dates, and graduate students can audition too.
- Full-time student status.
- At least a 2.25 GPA each semester and overall.
- Able to attend all practices, games and events for the whole season.
- All required paperwork, including insurance and academic forms.
There’s no height or weight requirement.
Video Rules
- Film horizontally, with no music.
- Videos must be from the last two months.
- One clip per skill. UNT won’t watch multiple videos of the same skill.
- No footage from workshops, camps, combines or clinics.
- Videos must follow USA Cheer guidelines. They don’t need to be professionally produced.
What to Put in the Video (2026-27 List)
Record the sections in this order. Film tumbling and stunts on grass, turf or a dead floor.
- Personal introduction (30–45 seconds): your name, the team you’re trying out for, your stunt position, hometown, cheer team or gym, and why you want to be part of UNT Cheer and attend UNT.
- Tumbling, in this order: standing back tuck; round-off back handspring layout or full (or your best running pass); one or two specialty standing passes; one or two specialty running passes (for example aerial, front walkover, whips, Arabian, full to full).
- Game day stunts (coed or all-girl). Show every stunt you can do, in order:
- Coed: toss hands, walk-in extension, toss extension, toss immediate lib, toss ball stretch, toss awesome, full up.
- All-girl: target bump and go stretch, full up low to high, full around high to high, full around.
- Elite stunts: any of FHS up, BHS or BHS full up, rewind, or hand-in-hand, plus harder variations. All flyers must include a heel stretch double down.
- Fight song: perform the UNT Fight Song. Poms are preferred but not required. UNT posts the fight song tryout material on YouTube.
- Jumps: a single toe touch, a single right hurdler, and any triple jump combination.
Tryout Attire
For 2026-27, the Clinics/Tryouts page listed: women, a black fitted top, black shorts, a bow, a curled ponytail and game day makeup with red lipstick; men, a black T-shirt and black shorts. UNT’s FAQ page gives different attire (bright colors and white cheer shoes), so check with the coach before your tryout.
Commitment, Costs and Benefits
- Practice: three mornings a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6 to 9 a.m. per the tryout page), plus at least two Sports Training sessions a week. Spring adds Sunday practices for Nationals.
- Costs: UNT says there are no out-of-pocket costs, but members must fundraise $1,000 and take part in team fundraisers.
- Benefits: scholarships, priority class registration, reserved housing in newer residence halls, Nike apparel and uniforms, team travel for games and Nationals, and access to a sports psychologist, nutritionist, athletic training and strength and conditioning.
Contacts
- Head Coach: Lindsey “Drisk” Driskill, lindsey.driskill@unt.edu
- Spirit Coordinator: tracy.frier@unt.edu
- Student Activities: 940-565-3807
Frequently Asked Questions
What GPA do I need to cheer at UNT? At least 2.25, each semester and overall, as a full-time student.
Does UNT have an all-girl team? Yes. UNT has two equal squads, Small Coed and All Girl, and squads are assigned after final cuts.
Can families watch tryouts? No. Auditions are closed to the public, but families are welcome at prep clinics.
If I don’t make it, can I get feedback? You can email the coach for limited feedback; allow three to four weeks for a reply. You must reapply each year with new paperwork and fees.
Related Resources
- University of South Florida Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- TCU Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- How to Do a Standing Back Tuck
- College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory
Sources: University of North Texas Student Activities Center, North Texas Cheer home, Clinics/Tryouts, FAQs, Coaches and Contact pages, and the Fall 2026 clinic registration form. Last checked October 1, 2026.
