Bio

Danelle Langeneckert was named the St. Ambrose University Spirt Coach on May 20, 2017.

Langeneckert, who has coached the SAU Dance Team since 2010-11, oversees both the Cheer and Dance teams and also coordinate efforts between the two programs and the Athletic Bands at performances at games and in the community.

"I am incredibly honored and proud to be the Spirit Coach and Coordinator of the St. Ambrose University Cheer and Dance Programs," Langeneckert said. "Both programs are filled with incredible talent and I look forward to continuing on the great traditions established here at SAU by our Spirit Programs and excited for the opportunity to take us to the next level."

Langeneckert, named the 2023 NAIA Competitive Cheer Coach of the Year, guided the team to an NAIA National Championship that season. St. Ambrose posted a score of 95.51, setting an NAIA record for highest score in championship history. The Bees also recorded the highest margin of victory (4.75) that season. In 2021, Langeneckert led St. Ambrose to a runner-up finish at the NAIA Competitive Cheer National Championships. The team finished third in 2019 and 2022. Langeneckert helped the Bees finish fifth at the 2018 National Championships. Her 2022 team won the College Classic in Orlando, Fla.

She inherited an impressive competitive cheer team. St. Ambrose earned a third- and fourth-place finish at the NAIA National Invitational in 2015 and 2016, and placed as high as second at the NCA College Nationals in 2014. The 2012 team won an NAIA Regional crown and five other teams finished in the top three at regionals. The Bees have had 24 cheerleaders earn All-American recognition since 2011-12, and six others receive All-American honorable mention.

Langeneckert has years of experience as a dance performer, instructor and coach and is familiar with the SAU dance program, having served as the assistant coach from 2004-06. She has choreographed award-winning routines at the high school and collegiate levels.

A member and captain of the Knight Kompany Dancers at Davenport Assumption High School, Langeneckert was the president and co-founder of the nationally-ranked Florida State University Seminole Dance Force Competition Team from 2001-03. She graduated with a degree in business marketing from Florida State in 2004 before earning her Master's of Business Administration from St. Ambrose in 2006.

Langeneckert started her dance instruction career with the Davenport Park Board Dance Program from 1997-99 and instructed at Kim's School of Dance in Moline, Ill., from 1998-00. She also spent three years at the Universal Dance Association in Memphis, Tenn., the last as the head instructor for Midwest high school dance camps.

In 2003-04, Langeneckert served as a summer staff instructor for Knights Elite, a junior and senior high pom squad. From the summer of 2004 through the spring of 2009, Langeneckert was the head varsity dance coach at Assumption High School. During that time, she led the team to 13 first-place team state titles and one individual state title and her 2006 squad placed 13th out of 71 teams at the UDA National Championships in Orlando, Fla.