ELGIN, IL. - The 2009-10 athletic season will bring a third new coach in Amy Cook as she has been hired to begin the cheerleading and poms program at Judson University. Judson University decided to add men's and women's golf and tennis and cheerleading and poms for the 2009-10 season.

"This is the most serious effortthat has ever been taken at Judson regarding a cheerleading and poms team. I am really happy that Amy was available to be the one to take on this venture," says Director of Athletics Nancy Binger. "Amy will be a great mentor for a team of students that will create atmosphere and entertainment at basketball games. She has great dancing experience and is a local cheerleading product of Elgin. This, combined with her great personality and solid Christian example, gives us a great leader for this program."

Cook has been dancing professionally for 12 years in the area and has worked with many choreographers such as Harrison McEldowney, Nana Shineflug, Greg Begley, Kenny Ingram, Jay Franke, and Wilfredo Rivera. She has danced with such companies as Cerque Rivera Art Experience and Chicago Arts Project. In 2002, she joined the Willow Creek Dance Ministry under Rhonda Henriksen and is a founding member of Groundwork Dance in 2006, which is a professional, Christian dance company, where she is a choreographer and featured dancer. Overall, she has taught dance for 13 years in the Fox River Valley area.

A cheerleader at Elgin High School from 1992-94, she has been married since 2005 to Judson alum David Cook and they have a 10-month old daughter, Maddy.

Cook will begin immediately looking for students to be a part of the new program as scholarships will be offered.