 When Garrin Gosnell is not relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Hawaii, you can find him polishing the 12 NCA College National Championship team trophies in his office at Hawaii Pacific University. Garrin is going in to his 5th year as HPU Head Coach and brings extensive experience coaching and competing. This South Florida Native has been a huge name in the cheerleading world since the days of “Big G” on the Pro-X team! In his college cheering days, Garrin accumulated 12 NCA championship titles (included team and partner stunt championships) while at Stephen F. Austin State University and Florida Atlantic University. After dominating the nationals floor as a cheerleader, Garrin decided to take cheerleading to the next step. He claims his “ability to read each athlete and realize how ‘they’ need to be coached so that they can be successful teammates and individuals” is what drove him to become the coach he is today. Before grabbing the prestigious crown at HPU, he coached at Florida Atlantic University, McNeese State University, and Kilgore Junior College.
Sweeping NCA College Nationals (winning 2 All-Girl, 2 Small Co-ed, 2 Large Co-Ed, 2 Dance, and one each in Co-ed Partner Stunt, All-Girl Group Stunt and Mascot) is just one of the many goals this entrepreneur has. Garrin started INEwear clothing company in January of 2008. “We started the company for everyone who wants to simply look good while they cheer or while [they] are outside of practice. Our designs are unique and individualized so every shirt stands out on its own.” All of this success would make any normal person begin to think pretty highly of themselves, but this humble NCA Staff Member says his greatest achievement is “Just been giving the ability and talent to teach, instruct, and coach young athletes all over to world and spread my knowledge to them so they can become better athletes, role models, and responsible adults. Hopefully they can take these attributes with them into their professional careers and apply them to real life situations.”
Keep up with all of Garrin’s accomplishments right here on CheerProject. We will be sure to keep you updated! You find out more about Hawaii Pacific by logging onto your account and searching for the program.
Q: What is the single most important lesson you can teach a cheerleader?
A: Passion. You have to have a strong desire, love, and passion for the sport of cheerleading. It is constantly evolving and becoming more competitive. You must work very diligently to stay one step ahead while maintaining that edge, drive, and commitment to excel in this sport.
Q: Was there a point when you experienced the “I finally did it” moment?
That moment came when I won my first coaches title. I had always wanted to coach a national championship team, and I was fortunate to have won 2 in the same day: HPU Small Coed 2007, HPU Large Coed 2007! When 40 young individuals puts all their faith and trust into you, as a coach, and you have success, there is no greater satisfaction.
Q: What other job would you like to do if you weren’t in the cheerleading industry?
A: That’s a good question. I have never imagined myself “not” in the industry. However, I could see myself being a teacher. I have a strong passion for teaching and working with athletes of all ages. I get great deal of satisfaction when I can make a difference in someone’s life and get to witness their achievements from the knowledge I have been able to pass on to them.
Q: If you could cast yourself to play you in a movie, who would you pick?
A: “Coach Boone” in Remember the Titans. As a coach, we are always faced with challenges, defeat, victory and diversity. It is our job to make sure that we help these young athletes learn that they have to work together as a team, a family. This carries over into their personal lives, and in their professional careers as adults.
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