Our Coaching Staff
Amy Grey | CEO and Program Director
Originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, and a resident of the Coachella Valley for over 30 years, Amy has been involved in cheer since she a young child. She was a competitive middle school and high school cheerleader and has 30 years of coaching expertise. She is a former United Spirit Association (USA) instructor and camp director as well as a judge for various competitive companies throughout the United States. She has done choreography and coached award-winning teams from throughout Southern California. Locally, she has worked as a cheer/dance coach/choreographer for Palm Springs High School, Palm Desert High School, La Quinta High School, and Nellie Coffman Middle School. She also began and ran championship programs at both James Workman Middle School (two-time National Champions in a junior varsity high school division) and Cathedral City High School. She is an English teacher at Rancho Mirage High School, where she established and directs the RMHS Cheer Team. Amy has been a teacher for over 25 years and is the mother of three girls, Mackenzie (now a Mavericks Coach) and twin daughters Ryan and Addison – all Mavericks!
Chase Hartman | Gym Manager, S4.2 Reckless & J1 Savage Team Coach
Chase is originally from New Jersey and relocated in 2017 to the desert from Maryland. Chase is a former high school, college, and all-star cheerleader. He was on the national championship Hawaii Pacific University coed cheer team. Chase was both a team coach and tumbling instructor for Maryland Twisters for seven years prior to moving to California. As both a coach and an athlete, he has won numerous national titles. Chase is an extremely positive, talented, and enthusiastic addition to our program. Chase has brought tremendous spirit and experience to not only his coaching of teams, but also through private stunt and tumbling instruction. In his spare time, he is an avid Spartan race participant and fitness fanatic.
Mackenzie Grey | S1 Shade & J2 Rogue Team Coach
Mackenzie is our first Maverick to enter the program as a Mini-Maverick (before the days of Tiny) and has spent most of her life as a Maverick. As a member of numerous championship teams (the first Vixen team to win NCA Nationals!), she brings tremendous stunting ability and experience to her fifth year of coaching teams. She was also a founding member of the Rancho Mirage High School Cheer Team, where she not only cheered, but also competed as a RMHS Rattler.
Jermaine Wright | S1 Shade Team Coach
Jermaine is a former Maverick and coach that is returning to her “home” – the Desert Elite! She is a former James Workman Middle and Cathedral City High School sideline and competitive cheerleader. She was a member of Coach Grey’s award-winning JWMS Cheer Team and a member of one of our first DVAS Maverick teams. Jermaine is a registered nurse who is now a realtor. She is mother to three girls: Dioree, Taleia, and Xyriah. Both Taleia and Xyriah are now Mavericks! Jermaine’s youth 1 “Riot” team won the coveted NCA title in the 2019-2020 season and earned our first youth D2 Summit bid.
Blaine Amidei | Rebels Team Coach
Blaine is a former long-time Maverick turned cheer coach. Blaine began her cheerleading journey as a gymnast who loved to tumble. She went with a friend to the Mavericks gym and instantly knew cheerleading was where she belonged. She cheered throughout her middle school, high school and college careers and took home (2) USA and (1) UCA National Championship title while being apart of the San Diego State All-Girl team. Blaine is also the former Head Coach at Xavier College Preparatory High School School in Palm Desert , CA. She loves both sideline and all-star cheerleading programs because you get to experience everything that cheer has to offer. Outside of coaching, she is the Director of Lending at Fortem Loans in Palm Desert California, is an avid traveler, lover of reality television, enjoys spending quality time with her friends, family, and beloved pets.
Brittny Jaramillo | S4.2 Reckless, Misfits & Tiny Teal Team Coach
Brittny is a former, long-time Maverick who is returning to the program to run our tumbling and cheer classes. She has taught recreational tumbling at local gymnastic gyms and helped mentor our youngest Mavericks during her time as a Maverick athlete. Brittny cheered for our John Glenn Middle School cheer program and was a four-year member of the La Quinta High School Cheer Team. She is studying kinesiology and hopes to both teach and coach after college graduation.
Chris Watson | S4 Renegades & J2 Rogue Team Coach
Originally from New York, Chris has a long cheer resume that includes not only having cheered at the University of Louisville, but also for some of the top all-star programs in the nation. In addition to numerous national championships, his teams have won or medaled at the Cheerleading Worlds three times. Chris is a tremendous coed stunter who adds great experience in his instruction of those skills. As one of our key private tumbling instructors, he is responsible for advancing the skills of many of our Mavericks.
Leah Hernandez | J1 Savage & Rebels Team Coach
Leah is a former long-time Maverick returning to her roots as an Elite Level Cheer Coach. She brings a love and passion for the athleticism and competitiveness of All-Star Cheer with an emphasis on stunting. Leah started her cheer experience on the Earhart Elementary and John Glenn Middle School in sideline and competitive cheer programs. She was also a four-year member and Senior Captain of the La Quinta High School Cheer Team. Leah is currently attending CSUSB with plans to become and PE teacher and continue her Cheer Coach career.
Alexandria Davalos | Tumbling Instructor
Alex cheered throughout middle and high school and during that time was also a member of the Desert Elite teams. In addition to coaching cheer, she also teaches acro and tumbling at a local dance studio. She is the former coach and program director of the Amelia Earhart Cheer Team and has continued to be an incredible asset in the coaching of our youngest Mavericks for the past six years.