Linda Gooch is a former four-year letter-winner as a UCF cheerleader, an alumnus of UCF and a 2022 inductee into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame.
She is in her 39th season as the coach of UCF’s nationally respected cheerleading team and head coach of UCF’s spirit program – including the cheerleaders, KnightMoves dance team and UCF mascot Knightro.
Since Gooch’s squad began competing in the national championships in 1994, the UCF cheerleading squad has captured three national titles at the Universal Cheerleaders Assocation College Cheerleading National Championship in 2003, 2007 and 2020. The Knights finished in the top three in the country in seven straight seasons (2015-21) in the national championships and has earned a top-10 finish 27 times in the last 29 years, including fifth in 2022 and fourth in 2023.
In 2003, the team won its first national crown by ending the University of Kentucky's streak of eight-consecutive titles. In 2007, UCF claimed its second national championship by outlasting several SEC schools, including Kentucky. The team received overwhelming response from a national audience during the 2007-08 season when the UCF cheerleading program was featured in a six-part television documentary that followed the team as they prepared to defend their national title. The 2013-14 season had many highlights starting in April with UCF's 2003 championship team being inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame.
In 2020, the team won its third national title, snapping the streak of four-time defending champ Kentucky, while also placing ahead of Alabama and Ohio State.
Gooch in 2011 received the colonel Gene Moeller College National Coach of the Year Award and in 2015 led the UCF cheer team to a first-place finish at the European Open Championship in Paris, France. She established the KnightMoves dance team in 1996 and played a leading role in the creation, design and character development of Knightro.
In 2011 she received a special award at the National Cheer and Dance Championships for her "significant impact" on cheer - then in 2020 earned the Shining Knight Award from UCF Alumni in the distinguished alumni category.
She is married to former long time UCF Football assistant coach Alan Gooch (also an alumni). The couple has two sons Zach and Noah. Gooch graduated from UCF in 1985 with a degree in social science education.
She is in her 39th season as the coach of UCF’s nationally respected cheerleading team and head coach of UCF’s spirit program – including the cheerleaders, KnightMoves dance team and UCF mascot Knightro.
Since Gooch’s squad began competing in the national championships in 1994, the UCF cheerleading squad has captured three national titles at the Universal Cheerleaders Assocation College Cheerleading National Championship in 2003, 2007 and 2020. The Knights finished in the top three in the country in seven straight seasons (2015-21) in the national championships and has earned a top-10 finish 27 times in the last 29 years, including fifth in 2022 and fourth in 2023.
In 2003, the team won its first national crown by ending the University of Kentucky's streak of eight-consecutive titles. In 2007, UCF claimed its second national championship by outlasting several SEC schools, including Kentucky. The team received overwhelming response from a national audience during the 2007-08 season when the UCF cheerleading program was featured in a six-part television documentary that followed the team as they prepared to defend their national title. The 2013-14 season had many highlights starting in April with UCF's 2003 championship team being inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame.
In 2020, the team won its third national title, snapping the streak of four-time defending champ Kentucky, while also placing ahead of Alabama and Ohio State.
Gooch in 2011 received the colonel Gene Moeller College National Coach of the Year Award and in 2015 led the UCF cheer team to a first-place finish at the European Open Championship in Paris, France. She established the KnightMoves dance team in 1996 and played a leading role in the creation, design and character development of Knightro.
In 2011 she received a special award at the National Cheer and Dance Championships for her "significant impact" on cheer - then in 2020 earned the Shining Knight Award from UCF Alumni in the distinguished alumni category.
She is married to former long time UCF Football assistant coach Alan Gooch (also an alumni). The couple has two sons Zach and Noah. Gooch graduated from UCF in 1985 with a degree in social science education.