Loyola’s competitive cheer and competitive dance head coach Rickey Hill died today after suffering a heart attack on campus, according to an email from University President Tania Tetlow.

Hill, 54, worked at Loyola for five years leading both the cheer and dance programs. He previously coached for Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, James Madison University, Methodist University, and Winthrop University. 

“Rickey was as full of joy as you would expect of someone who dedicated his life to teaching and to cheer and dance. For five years at Loyola, and for thirty years before that, he coached teams to brilliant competitive success,” Tetlow said. “Far more importantly, he taught generations of students to know themselves better, to be part of a fiercely bonded team and to work ever harder to achieve their goals. He was much beloved by his student-athletes.”

Hill led the Wolf Pack dancers to several NAIA top ten finishes while head coach. Hill also served as Loyola’s representative on the Southern State Athletic Conference’s SFE (Striving for Equality) Place Committee, which seeks to combat racism and other social injustices within the conference.

“Now we stop what we are doing and we pray,” Tetlow said. “We pray in gratitude for Rickey, whose bright spirit we will keep alive forever in our hearts.”