ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Baptist University Spirit programs will be under new direction heading into 2022-23, but will be led by a familiar face, the Athletics Department announced Monday, May 23.
Following a successful run as Director of Spirit & Community Engagement, Andrea Robb announced that she will be transitioning into a complementary role as an assistant for the co-ed cheer team while teaching in the Fine Arts Division and continuing her pursuit of a Ph.D. in Performance Psychology. MBU Associate Vice President & Director of Athletics Dr. Tom Smith wasted little time naming the next leader of the Spartan Spirit programs. Robb will be passing the baton to Missouri Baptist University alumna Ciara Schott ('20, '22), who has been promoted to Director of Spirit & Community Engagement and will assume all responsibilities beginning July 1.
"Ciara has played a key role in the growth and success of our Spirit programs as both a student-athlete and assistant coach," said Director of Athletics Dr. Tom Smith. "Most importantly, she has all the qualities we look for in a head coach: a servant leader, intentional in her pursuit of Christ, understands the importance of recruiting and retention, and desires to uphold the department's tradition of excellence in athletics and academics."
Most recently, Schott served the past two seasons as an assistant coach for co-ed cheer and STUNT at MBU while pursuing a Master of Science in Higher Education Leadership. Together with Robb and former head STUNT coach Allie Henshaw, Schott helped the Spartans launch a varsity STUNT program, which wrapped up a trip to the NAIA Division STUNT National Championship in its second year in existence. In addition to her role at MBU, Schott also works as Program Director and Head Cheer Coach at Flipside, coaching four elite teams.
The Desloge, Mo. native, has helped guide MBU Cheer to two NAIA National Championship bids, once as a student-athlete (2018) and once as an assistant coach (2022). Schott was a member of the 2018 Southwest Regional championship squad that finished ninth overall at the NAIA National Championships in Oklahoma City. While pursuing a bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership from MBU, Schott worked as a substitute teacher and head cheer coach for West County R-IV.
Schott is a 2013 graduate of Hillsboro High School, where she cheered all four years. She was one of three athletes on her Hillsboro team who were nominated and attended Cheer Hawaii, a selective cheer and leadership camp held at the University of Hawaii each summer. After graduating from Hillsboro, Schott cheered for Mineral Area College before transferring to MoBap.
"I cannot wait to take on my new role as Director of Spirit & Community Engagement and Head STUNT Coach," Schott said. In my two years as an assistant coach, I learned so much from Andrea [Robb] and Allie [Henshaw. These strong women have taught me so much, and I am excited to build on their legacies and continue to grow the Spirit programs at MBU."
Ciara currently resides in Desloge and virtually attends Life Church while actively searching for a new home and church in St. Louis.
