DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Dance and Cheer
ABOUT US
The DePaul Cheerleaders and Dance Team members are part of the DePaul Department of Athletics and are recognized as the official spirit team for DePaul University. The teams promote school spirit at basketball games, volleyball matches and campus events, in addition to traveling to the BIG EAST Men's and Women's Basketball Championships as well as any potential March Madness games.
The overall program is led by Spirit Director Shanon Lersch with assistance from our sport adminstrator Lindsay Martin. The cheer team is coaches by Francine Dilay and the dance team is coached by Rachel Bell and Emma Sporer. The DIBS mascot program is a part of the DePaul Cheer team, while both programs work closely with the Screamin' Demons Pep Band to provide an awesome gameday experience.
The team hosts tryouts each spring, typically in May, with additional fall tryouts as needed. If you are interested in trying out for either program, please contact a member of the coaching staff.
COMPETITION
The DePaul Cheer Team is also a competition squad, participating at NCA Collegiate Nationals in Daytona each April. In 2025, the team finished 9th in the Intermediate Small Coed Division I category. Depending on the team makeup, the program has occasionally competed All-Girl, finishing top 5 in 2023.
The Dance Team is currently non-competitive. We have previously competed in the Division I Jazz category at UDA College Team nationals at Disney World. The Blue Demons placed 19th in 2023, 20th in 2022, and fifth in 2021. The dance team plans to return to competition for the 2027-2028 academic year.
APPEARANCES
Members of the DePaul Cheer and Dance Teams are available to appear at your event! Appearances can be scheduled by contacting our Spirit Director, Shanon Lersch, via email. Depending on the type and location of the event, appearance fees may apply.
PRACTICES
Team members practice 6-9 hours per week, typically in the evenings and/or Sunday mornings. Additionally, team members are asked to commit to a twice-weekly workout program in order to maintain physical health and stamina. These practices are typically held on campus; transportation will be provided if a practice is moved off-site.
General health and injuries are managed with the support of the team's assigned athletic trainer from DePaul Sports Medicine. Annual physicals with the DePaul team doctors are required.
GAME TICKETS AND OTHER RESOURCES
Members of the Cheer and Dance Teams have access to complimentary tickets for friends and family to attend DePaul volleyball, men's and women's basketball home games. These tickets must be requested each game and are limited in quantity.
Our team members also have access to many of the Athletic Department resources, such as the fuel station, academic support and study hall spaces, life skills programming and department events like our end of year banquet and award show, the BILLYS. Athletes may also take advantage of the services from the staff registered dietitian and Associate AD for Mental Health and Wellness.
FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS
Team members are expected to fundraise to help support our program. General gameday and uniform expenses are covered by the Athletic Department budget, however, extra items - including but not limited to camp and competition- require fundraising dollars. The Spirit Director or Coaching Staff can discuss this with you in more detail.
SUMMER AND WINTER BREAK EXPECTATIONS
DePaul Cheer and Dance is a 10-month commitment. The season begins in July, with a week dedicated to preparation and summer camp.
Due to DePaul's quarter system schedule, cheer and dance team members are expected to remain in the Chicagoland area through the winter intersession in order to practice and perform at scheduled basketball games. Out of state students and/or those living on campus should discuss their individual situations with the coaching staff. The best effort will be made to provide each athlete with as much time off as possible without impacting our performance schedule. For the cheer team, nationals choreography is taught during this time.