Valerie Ruiz was named Chicago State head cheerleading coach in November 2013. A former four-year member and cheerleading captain at DePaul University, Ruiz recently spent a season as the head coach at Loyola University Chicago.
 
While at Loyola, Ruiz taught gymnastics, 2 1/2 high pyramids, chants and half-time routines that were performed during basketball games. She also spent time as a choreographer at Argo High School in Summit, Ill., organizing stunting sequences for the team's routine for the state tournament. She has also served as a gymnastics instructor at the Midwest Olympic Training Center in Dyer, Ind.
 
As a cheerleader at DePaul, Ruiz put together transitional pyramids for timeout routines during practices while overseeing game day procedures by reading through game scripts and communicating with the game day operations department.
 
Ruiz graduated from DePaul University with her bachelor degree in Advertising and Public Relations. A native of Chicago, she is certified through the American Red Cross in Adult/Child CPR, AED and the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches Spirit Safety.