Valerie Ruiz was named the head cheer coach and spirit squad director of Northwestern Athletics in May 2021.
Under her leadership, Ruiz guided the Northwestern Cheerleading Squad to a notable second-place finish in the 2021 All-Girl D1A Rally Routine and a remarkable second-place victory in the 2023 All-Girl Intermediate Division during their attendance at NCA College Camp. The Spirit Program also celebrated a milestone in 2023 with the first-ever appearance at UCA College Mascot Camp clinching the prestigious Most Improved Mascot Award - the camp's highest honor.
In 2020, Ruiz was head coach of an all-star cheerleading program at Cheer Extreme Chicago. She led her team to three championship titles, making them the undefeated champion within their division. She also competed internationally with the US National Adaptive Abilities Team in 2019, winning the International Cheer Union (ICU) gold medal and named World Champion at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. Within that same year, Ruiz also competed with Team USA Adaptive Abilities Team for the advance division, in which she and her teammates were named the 2019 ICU bronze medalists.
In addition to team success, Ruiz returned to her alma mater as head coach at DePaul University in 2015. During her tenure, Ruiz’s team was awarded a silver paid bid in 2017 at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) College Camp – a first in the program’s history and took home fourth place in the NCA DI All-Girl Division in 2018. Prior to DePaul, Valerie was head coach at Chicago State University in 2013. While at CSU, her all-girl team was awarded two second place finishes in sideline and cheer performances in the DI All-Girl Division during the 2014 Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) College Spirit Camp and received the UCA Leadership Award.
Ruiz started her collegiate coaching career in 2011 when she was named head coach at Loyola University, leading a team of 14 student-athletes in game-day performances for the Horizon League Conference. A 2009 graduate of DePaul University with a BA in Public Relations and Advertising, she was a four-year student athlete and cheerleading captain for the Blue Demons. Ruiz has maintained strong relationships within her local community and has established programs to educate coaches and advisors in the sport of cheerleading regarding safety, training and mentoring young athletes. Her certifications include AACCA National Safety, STUNT College Coach, USASF SafeSport, ICU Athlete Protection, NFHS Concussion in Sports, NCAA Eligibility, Sportsmanship and USA Cheer Safety & Risk Management.
Ruiz and her husband Matthew have a son, Johann and they reside in Chicago.
Under her leadership, Ruiz guided the Northwestern Cheerleading Squad to a notable second-place finish in the 2021 All-Girl D1A Rally Routine and a remarkable second-place victory in the 2023 All-Girl Intermediate Division during their attendance at NCA College Camp. The Spirit Program also celebrated a milestone in 2023 with the first-ever appearance at UCA College Mascot Camp clinching the prestigious Most Improved Mascot Award - the camp's highest honor.
In 2020, Ruiz was head coach of an all-star cheerleading program at Cheer Extreme Chicago. She led her team to three championship titles, making them the undefeated champion within their division. She also competed internationally with the US National Adaptive Abilities Team in 2019, winning the International Cheer Union (ICU) gold medal and named World Champion at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. Within that same year, Ruiz also competed with Team USA Adaptive Abilities Team for the advance division, in which she and her teammates were named the 2019 ICU bronze medalists.
In addition to team success, Ruiz returned to her alma mater as head coach at DePaul University in 2015. During her tenure, Ruiz’s team was awarded a silver paid bid in 2017 at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) College Camp – a first in the program’s history and took home fourth place in the NCA DI All-Girl Division in 2018. Prior to DePaul, Valerie was head coach at Chicago State University in 2013. While at CSU, her all-girl team was awarded two second place finishes in sideline and cheer performances in the DI All-Girl Division during the 2014 Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) College Spirit Camp and received the UCA Leadership Award.
Ruiz started her collegiate coaching career in 2011 when she was named head coach at Loyola University, leading a team of 14 student-athletes in game-day performances for the Horizon League Conference. A 2009 graduate of DePaul University with a BA in Public Relations and Advertising, she was a four-year student athlete and cheerleading captain for the Blue Demons. Ruiz has maintained strong relationships within her local community and has established programs to educate coaches and advisors in the sport of cheerleading regarding safety, training and mentoring young athletes. Her certifications include AACCA National Safety, STUNT College Coach, USASF SafeSport, ICU Athlete Protection, NFHS Concussion in Sports, NCAA Eligibility, Sportsmanship and USA Cheer Safety & Risk Management.
Ruiz and her husband Matthew have a son, Johann and they reside in Chicago.