APSU cheer hires new coach, reinstates program after hazing, underage drinking investigation

Kenya Anderson, Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle
Updated ·2 min read

Austin Peay State University has a new spirit coordinator.

TJ Bettineschi joins the university's athletics department as the new spirit coordinator, who will have the opportunity revamp APSU's cheer team

"I am so excited to welcome TJ as our new spirit coordinator and head cheer coach," Gerald Harrison, APSU Vice President said in a news release. "I know that TJ will bring experience and energy that will help our cheer and dance teams level up and build a top-tier culture in the coming years. TJ also understands the 'Total Gov Concept' and will push our spirit teams to pursue excellence in the classroom and beyond!"

New leadership

A new spirit coordinator means APSU's cheer team is now reinstated after an investigation of hazing and underage drinking shut down the program early this year.

Following the investigation, former spirit coordinator Maurice Grant was fired and the cheer team was suspended until a new coordinator was hired.

With Bettineschi's hiring, the team has been reinstated and tryout dates for the team will be set by Bettineschi and her new assistant coach.

“I am so excited to start this journey at Austin Peay State University,” said Bettineschi in a news release. ” I look forward to becoming a part of the community and getting to call Austin Peay my home away from home. I am ready to get this season started and can’t wait to grow together with our Austin Peay cheerleaders.”

While it is a change at APSU, this role at APSU isn't new to Bettineschi.

Prior to coming to APSU, Bettineschi spent the past year as the spirit coordinator and head cheerleading coach at Long Island University, overseeing the functions and schedule of cheer, dance, band and mascot at campus-wide events. She also served as an athletic success coach, advising over 180 student-athletes ensuring they maintained progress toward graduation.

While working at LUI, Bettineschi served as the assistant program manager for the Matt Martin Foundation. Bettineschi worked as a social studies teacher at Rochdale Charter School from 2019-22 and was the varsity cheerleading coach at Massapequa High School from 2017-21.

Bettineschi will be joined by Justin Mizen as the new assistant cheerleading coach at APSU.

Mizen has served as an event coordinator for Varsity All State Cheer since January 2022 and a Universal Cheerleader's Association instructor since 2012. He worked as the head coach for Hamilton Southeastern High School's cheer team in Indianapolis since 2019.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: APSU cheer hires new coach, reinstates program after investigation