USC Upstate has named Maranda Sams as the program's new head cheerleading coach.   Sams will assume the role with the program in mid-July.
 
Sams, a local product, cheered in high school in Spartanburg County at Chapman High and collegiately at Lander before injury cut her cheerleading career short.   While by night Sams will assume the leadership duties for the Spartan cheerleaders, by day, she also leads the staff as a manager at Moe's Southwest Grill in Greer. 
 
Sams takes the reigns from Lynsey and Peyton Hoppes who have stepped aside from leading the program after two seasons as they await the arrival of their second child later this year.
 
"I'm very excited to have Maranda join us and continue the upward momentum of our program. She comes with terrific references and I know will be a great addition to our athletic department family.  I am grateful to Lynsey and Peyton [Hoppes] for their hard work during two of the most unique years one can imagine with the onset of COVID-19 and many associated changes and protocols.  With all the challenges, they moved our program forward and helped set the course for success that now Maranda is poised to pick up!" said Lenny Mathis, senior associate athletic director for external operations and cheerleading program administrator.

In addition, the program will also welcome a new assistant coach/consultant in Hannah Lovorn.  Lovorn is currently the cheerleading coach at Byrnes High School and a teacher in Spartanburg School District 5 and will lend her expertise during select practices and basketball game dates throughout the coming year.