News Post

Raul Vazquez has been named head coach of the St. Joseph’s Academy cheerleaders. He takes over the program from Jade Blalock, who coached the squad for three years. The Redstickers have won five consecutive national championships.

Vazquez, who was a cheerleader at Louisiana State University, has been an instructor with Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) since 2016. He travels extensively to teach skills and techniques to high school and college cheerleaders and UCA staff instructors. 

As a coach at Live Oak Rec Cheer for the past five years, he has helped coach numerous national championship-winning teams, working with athletes of all ages and skill ranges. He is also a credentialed judge for national and international varsity competitions.
 
“SJA athletics is excited to welcome Coach Vazquez to the department,” said Athletic Director Erin Hart. “His extensive experience with UCA and coaching competitive cheer make him the perfect person to continue the tradition of excellence that Coach Jade Blalock built in the past three years.” 

Vazquez graduated from Louisiana State University in 2020. His expertise ranges from choreography to technical stunts and tumbling. “I believe focusing on technique while learning skills helps lead to faster progressions and better consistency and confidence in skills,” he said. 

Vazquez said he looks forward to building on the championship pedigree of the SJA cheer program. “To take over a program with a winning tradition means that there is already an established expectation of how successful this program can be,” he said. “As the new coach, it is my job to help continue the success of the program while also striving to take it to new heights wherever possible. I’m really looking forward to working with the athletes to help them continue to improve their athletic careers and encouraging them to become the best versions of themselves.”