JAMAICA, NY --- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) York College director of athletics Carl Christian announced Wednesday that John Gonzalez has been named head cheerleading coach.  Gonzalez takes over a program that served as the host site for the CUNYAC Cheerleading Championships in 2018 and 2019.   

"I am super excited to join the York Cardinal family and start traditions that will hopefully last years and years. Cheerleading is no longer what our grandparents and great grandparents experienced. It is an athletic sport just like any other with a training matched with any other. I am so thrilled to show the York community and potential York student-athletes that York Cheerleading is and will be a force within New York City cheer. York Cheerleading is back and I am happy to lead this program and these student-athletes to greatness and championships. " – said head cheerleading coach John Gonzalez

"We are excited at the prospect of reestablishing the York Cheerleading program after its recent hiatus and confident in the selection of new head coach, John Gonzalez, given his extensive experience on the cheerleading circuit and within CUNYAC. As the former assistant at CSI, we believe that John is the best coach to step in and take the program forward and is more than capable of establishing our cheerleading program within the conference and region.  We look forward to the return of cheerleading on campus and to seeing our team compete in the CUNYAC Championships here at York College." - said director of athletics Carl Christian

Having previously served as assistant coach at College of Staten Island from 2017-21, Gonzalez helped lead the Dolphins to back-to-back CUNYAC Championships in 2018 and 2019.  He is a certified dance instructor by the National Dance Educators Organization (2014-present), Dance Educators of America (2007-present), American Association of Cheerleading (2013-present) and American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (2013-present).  Since 2014, Gonzalez has served as staff instructor and judge at the Universal Cheerleaders Association.  He also holds positions with The Spirit Consultants (cheerleading instructor and competition judge, 2014-present), Dancer's Inc. (judge and master teacher, 2013-present) and Step Up 2 Dance (judge and master teacher, 2013-present).

Gonzalez cheered for three seasons (2000, 2006-07) as a member of the nationally ranked program at Hofstra University.  The three-time cheerleading All-Star graduated from Hofstra in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in dance.  During his time at Hofstra, Gonzalez performed as a back-up dancer for recording artist Renee Stakey, and staged works by Robin Becker, Amy Marshall, Lance Westegard, and Dyane Harvey-Salaam, to name a few. 

With a decorated cheering career that also includes Just Cheer All-Stars and Cheer New York, Gonzalez has won regional competitions both as a coach and choreographer.  His training in dance and cheerleading helped him land a spot with the WNBA's New York Liberty Torch Patrol (2008, 2015) and the NBA's New York Knicks 7th Avenue Squad (2014-15), where he performed at all Madison Square Garden home games as well as television appearances on Good Day New York, Good Morning America and Total Request Live.  From 2008-11, Gonzalez gained experience with Walt Disney World, where he was a dancer for The Lion King and High School Musical, and various other shows and parades.  

At the age of 14, Gonzalez began his dance career as a scholarship recipient to June's School of Dance, where he trained in ballet, partnering, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical and contemporary techniques.  During his time at June's School of Dance, Gonzalez received scholarships to various dance intensives and workshops such as Dance America, and Dance Olympus, while winning several titles and awards at dance competitions and conventions. 

As a resident of Elmhurst, Gonzalez holds the title of dance educator at Central Queens Academy.  Gonzalez was raised in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, where he attended St. John's Preparatory School. 

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