Varsity Spirit

Varsity Spirit Corp.

Official Logo

Varsity Spirit Corp. is an organization that sells cheerleading and dance apparel, trains cheerleaders and dancers at educational camps and hosts competitions. It is based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.[1]

Varsity’s history dates back to 1948.[2]

In 1980, Varsity hosted the first cheerleading championship called the National High School Cheerleading Championships. Each year these events are held at Walt Disney World Resorts and are broadcast on ESPN networks.[1]

Varsity camps train 325,000 cheerleaders from colleges, high schools, middle schools, and all star programs at 1,500 camps sessions around the United States.[1] In all, 475,000 cheerleaders and dance team members compete at Varsity Brand events.

History and leadership

Jeff Webb is the CEO and founder of Varsity.[3] was a yell leader at the University of Oklahoma contemplating law school and working summers as a camp instructor for National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) with Lawrence Herkimer when he decided to start Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) under the Varsity name. In 2004, they merged to form the largest partnership in the cheerleading and dance team industry.

Webb founded UCA in 1974.

Webb used marketing and promotional campaigns[4] to increase cheerleading’s profile. Today, ESPN televises eight hours of Varsity’s national championships, a relationship that began in 1985 and continues to this day. In 2002, Webb was featured in a USA Today article entitled From Megaphones to Mega-Profits.[2]

Jeff Webb testified that cheerleading is not a sport in the federal trial in Connecticut to decide cheerleading's fate with Title IX.

In 2011, Varsity merged with Herff Jones, the Indianapolis-based provider of graduation, achievement and educational products and services, such as class rings and jewelry, yearbooks, motivation and recognition tools, and educational products.[5] Jeff Webb was named President and COO in December 2012.[6]

Varsity and cheerleading safety

Varsity underwrote the "American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators"[7] (AACCA) in 1987.

Varsity contributions to cheerleading safety

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Master Entrepreneur takes cheerleading to new heights with Varsity Brands". Commercialappeal.com. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "From megaphones to mega-profits". Usatoday.Com. 2002-04-26. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  3. ↑ "Industry Profile: Jeff Webb of Varsity Brands, Inc". Cheercoachmagazine.com. 2006-05-01. Retrieved 2010-07-27.
  4. ↑ Elliott, Stuart (June 11, 2007). "Marketers Are Joining the Varsity". New York Times.
  5. ↑ 9
  6. ↑ 10
  7. ↑ Kristin Hoskinson. "aacca.org". aacca.org. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  8. ↑ "New safety rules for school cheerleaders : American Cheerleader Magazine". Americancheerleader.com. 2010-05-11. Retrieved 2010-07-27.

11. Jeff Webb Named President, COO of Herff Jones

External links