Owner and program director, Kelly (Samford) Halcomb has called Duluth home since 1980.  She is a former Auburn University Dance Team member and Captain.  She has been working with gymnasts, dancers and cheerleaders of all ages for over 25 years.  As a 1999 honor graduate of Auburn University, she majored in High School Science Education with an emphasis in Biology.  After teaching Biology and coaching cheerleading and track at Duluth High School for several years, she opened Cheer & Dance Atlanta with her husband Brent in 2002.   As the gym grew to be more successful, they opened locations in Auburn, GA (2013) and Grayson, GA (2015) to better serve the Atlanta area.  Kelly & Brent have six children, Emerson, Samford, Callaway, Banks, Mills, Powell and Australian Labradoodles named Coach & Cotton.

Kelly oversees all Jayhawks All-Star coaches, class instructors and summer camps.  She is CPR, First Aid and USASF safety certified, a member of the Georgia High School Coaches Association and a member of the Georgia Cheerleading Coaches Association.  Kelly has captured 6 GHSA State Championships, and two runner-ups, as well as numerous National Championships at the All-Star level.  In 2006 she coached the Georgia & National High School Cheerleading Team of the Year and was a finalist for Georgia Coach of the Year.   Since then she has worked with high school squads from all over the Southeast. As a coach she has coached levels 1-6 and has won numerous national championships including JamFest Super Nationals, CHEERSPORT, Spirit of Hope and countless others. In 2013 Kelly co-coached the Atlanta JayHawks "Platinum" Level 5 Team who won The Summit Championship in Disney World.  In 2021 Kelly proudly coached Atlanta Jayhawks "SHADE" who captured our first SILVER GLOBE at Worlds in Orlando, Florida.  Kelly has served on the Varsity Coaches Council and enjoys working with industry leaders to improve and grow our sport.  She is a past member of Gwinnett Medical Center's Women's Advisory and takes pride being involved in the community where she grew up.

Kelly enjoys challenging the kids to progress in their skills while enthusiastically encouraging them every step of the way.  She makes it her mission to see every child leave the gym with a smile and a great feeling about their accomplishments.  She is proud of the numerous athletes she has helped train to become college cheerleaders.  Many former Jayhawks have now become successful coaches themselves.  Kelly considers her staff and the families in the gym her extended family and loves building the relationships that will last a lifetime.

Tony Oka is a former Cheerleader and Captain at California State University Sacramento. He was a member of their Large Coed team beginning in 2002. Sacramento State competed at the UCA College National Championships where his team was able to place 2nd and 3rd places in consecutive years.  Tony's cheerleading coaching career began while teaching summer camp with UCA beginning at the high school level which led to teaching college camps and being a member of UCA's core staff.  He has taught international camps for both UCA and USA Cheer, working with athletes from countries like China, Japan, Singapore, and Russia.  His school coaching history includes a wide range of levels including most recently as Head Cheer Coach at Rocklin High School in California as the Head Cheer Coach, Spirit, Competition, and the Sport of Stunt. Tony has also Lay- coached for the Buford Wolves Competition Team which took 2nd at State for 6A this past year (2021). In addition to all of the middle schools that Tony has coached, he has also coached the Competition and STUNT All Girl teams at Sacramento State.  Tony has coached all levels of competitive cheerleading ranging from Tiny 1 to Senior Coed 6. He has extensive experience coaching teams that qualify for Summit and Worlds, he has even competed on Open Teams at Worlds. Tony teaches and spots tumbling for all levels, as well as will still get in there and stunt when needed. He is beyond excited to share his knowledge and we feel blessed to share him with our Jayhawks family.

Ashley (Reynolds) Greene is excited to re-join the Atlanta Jayhawks family. Ashley cheered at Brookwood high school and at the Atlanta Jayhawks before attending Georgia College and State University. She started teaching choreography camps, stunt clinics, and spirit camps the summer going into her first year of college. Ashley transferred into Georgia State her sophomore year and began working full-time at Force Cheerleading in Snellville. While at Force she coached PeeWee, Youth and Junior teams as well as leading dozens of summer camps across the Southeast.

Ashley originally joined the Atlanta Jayhawks in 2002 and from the get-go it was a perfect fit. She loved being able to help build the Atlanta Jayhawks brand, as well as forming many lifelong relationships. While at the Atlanta Jayhawks, Ashley coached Tinys, Mini’s, Youth, Junior and Senior teams ranging from level one to six, including the Jayhawks first appearance at Worlds with a Senior Small Co-Ed.

After having her first child I’m 2010, she moved to the Lake Oconee area. There she focused on just being a mom until the cheer bug got her again. After one year of staying at home she started the cheer program at Gatewood Schools in Eatonton, Georgia. The program included K-3 through seniors with the Middle School and Varsity’s first competition squads.

After a brief time in New York, Ashley and her family moved back to Gwinnett. She is so excited to be back in the place that she called home for so long, and is beyond thrilled to be able to help mold and coach young people to be their best.  One of the greatest things about being a part of the Atlanta Jayhawks program is that it truly is family. We have been in each other’s weddings, go on vacation together, and are each other‘s children’s Godparents.  It truly is the #JHfamily 💚💙

We are thankful to have Ms. Heather at the fron desk to serve our customers!

We are thankful to have Ms. Antionette at the front desk servng our customers!

Jodi keeps our allstars organized and registered for USASF events.  Jodi has been with Jayhawks since 2003!

Rachel was born in Illinois and has grown up in Georgia. She cheered for Social Circle Middle and High School and also cheered at Future Extreme. Rachel attended Young Harris College and was a part of the competitive coed team. She graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Rachel joined Team Grayson in 2018. 

Maya grew up in Suwanee, Ga where she competed with the Atlanta Jayhawks for 12 years. During that period, she also competed on North Gwinnett High School’s varsity competition team for 3 years. After high school, Maya accepted an athletic scholarship to Georgetown College where she was a member of the Acrobatics & Tumbling team and pursued a degree in psychology.  In the 2017-2018 season she choreographed the programs team routine and was voted the team MVP; she then served as the student coach the following season. During her junior year she transferred to the University of Kentucky and went on to compete on the university’s first Stunt team. Since college, Maya’s passion for cheerleading has continued and she is thrilled to return to Atlanta Jayhawks as staff!

Heather started competitive cheer when she was 11 years old at Future Extreme and instantly fell in love with the sport. She switched over to her middle school competition squad. Heather competed for her school from 7th grade and continued until she graduated from high school. During her Junior season, she began tumbling at Atlanta Jayhawks and during her Senior season became a coach for the half year Tiny Novice team. Once that season was over she started teaching tumbling classes and fell in love with the kids. The Atlanta Jayhawks are like family to Heather and she is so excited to start her next season!