College cheer recruiting is about much more than the biggest tumbling pass or hardest stunt.

Skylar Byram Casey—Ole Miss Cheer Head Coach and Coordinator of Spirit Squads—joins Tom and Geoff to explain what college coaches notice at clinics, why versatility and body language matter, how athletes should communicate with programs, and when parents need to step back.

Skylar also shares her journey back to Ole Miss, the work of rebuilding a program’s culture, what she looks for in future athletes, and the real-life boundaries required to balance coaching, marriage and motherhood.

In this episode:

• Why versatility increases an athlete’s recruiting value
• What coaches watch when athletes think nobody is watching
• Why athletes should research programs before contacting coaches
• Why parents cannot manage the recruiting process for their athlete
• How to determine whether a college program truly fits
• Building belief, accountability and championship culture
• Coaching, motherhood and protecting family time
• The resources athletes should investigate beyond the school’s name or logo

Follow Skylar on Instagram: @coach_mamasky
Follow Ole Miss Cheer: @OleMissCheer

Cheer Dads Unfiltered: real dads, real cheer conversations.

Here For Every Count

What do college cheer coaches notice before and after an athlete’s actual turn?

Tom, Geoff and David unpack their firsthand experience at the USA Cheer Combine—the nerves in the room, the athletes who kept working when nobody seemed to be watching, the parents who helped without taking over and the coach conversations that changed how the dads think about college cheer.

The dads share why clean technique, confidence, coachability and grades matter; how young athletes can begin preparing long before recruiting starts; and why the best parent role may be the “purse dad” or “purse mom” while the athlete owns the conversation. They also catch up on the girls’ season, showcase, uniforms and what is coming next for Cheer Dads Unfiltered.

This is not an official USA Cheer recap or recruiting evaluation. It is three cheer dads sharing what they observed, learned and want other families to know.

What does it take to wear Kentucky across your chest and still know who you are when the uniform comes off?

In Episode 45 of Cheer Dads Unfiltered, Tom, Geoff and David sit down with Ryan Martin O’Connor, Head Coach of University of Kentucky Cheerleading, for an honest conversation about culture, pressure, recruiting, leadership and coaching the whole person.

Ryan explains how growing up in the public spotlight shaped her approach to pressure and why “we steer where we stare.” She shares what it means to earn Kentucky through daily choices, how she evaluates the human behind the skills during recruiting and why feelings are real but cannot dictate behavior or the next decision.

The conversation also explores athletes’ fear of failure, helping young people work through mistakes, creating self-sufficient leaders, treating accountability as being “called up,” and reminding athletes that their identity and value extend far beyond their latest performance.

For parents, coaches and athletes, this episode is a practical look at maintaining high standards without losing sight of the person inside the uniform.

• Kentucky Cheer information and recruiting: UKAthletics.com

• Official Kentucky Cheer social channels: @KentuckyCheer

• Ryan Martin O’Connor: @Ryoconnor17

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Recruiting information, program details and official contact paths are available through Kentucky Athletics and Kentucky Cheer. Ryan also welcomes athletes reaching out through Instagram and said she is happy to help steer them toward the right opportunity even when Kentucky may not ultimately be the right fit.

Subscribe and follow Cheer Dads Unfiltered for new episodes every Thursday.

Real dads. Real cheer conversations

Here for the parents. Here for the athletes. Here for every count

Connect with Ryan and Kentucky Cheer