Clarissa Johnson enters her sixth season as Head Cheerleading Coach at Transylvania University in 2026–27.
Since taking over the program, Clarissa has been committed to building a competitive, student-centered culture that emphasizes athletic excellence, leadership, accountability, and academic success. Under her leadership, the Pioneers have continued to grow through successful recruiting while earning multiple appearances at NCA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Clarissa's vision for the Transylvania cheer program is to recruit talented student-athletes, provide guidance and support as they grow both on and off the mat, and continue building toward consistent appearances at NCA College Nationals against the nation's top collegiate cheer programs.
Clarissa joined Transylvania after serving as the Head Cheer Coach at Tates Creek High School in Lexington. She brings more than a decade of coaching experience spanning middle school, high school, collegiate, all-star, and professional-affiliated cheerleading.
Throughout her coaching career, Clarissa has served as Head Cheer Coach at Crawford Middle School in Lexington, Director and Coach of the Warhorses Arena Football cheerleading team, coach of the Open Dance Team and Charity Events in Lexington, and coach of the Lady Legends Dance Team. Prior to coaching, she was a cheerleader and dancer for the Lexington Horsemen Arena Football Team, experiences that continue to influence her emphasis on performance quality, teamwork, and leadership.
In addition to her team coaching responsibilities, Clarissa has served as a Senior Staff Instructor for Cheer Limited Inc. in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she worked as a camp instructor, choreographer, and certified cheer judge.
A member of USA Cheer, Clarissa is passionate about developing confident leaders while fostering a program culture rooted in excellence, integrity, commitment, and pride in representing Transylvania University.
Under Clarissa's leadership, the Pioneers have made multiple appearances at NCA College Nationals while continuing to expand the program through successful recruiting and student-athlete development.
Clarissa earned her bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from the University of Kentucky. She enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. She and her husband, Avery, have two sons and enjoy cheering them on both in the classroom and in athletics, with their oldest playing football and their youngest playing basketball.
