Laura Martin was named the first-ever head coach of the USC Upstate competitive dance program in July 2025, bringing a proven record of building successful programs both on the sidelines and on the national stage.
Martin comes to Spartanburg after a highly successful stint at Limestone University, where she led the Saints to two top-five national placements. During her tenure at Limestone, she significantly expanded the program, growing team personnel by over 150% in just one year through strategic recruitment initiatives. She also developed an impactful social media presence across multiple platforms and crafted a high-energy game day experience that blended innovative choreography, crowd engagement, and mascot interaction at the NCAA Division II level.
In addition to her coaching duties, Martin served as an adjunct professor in Limestone’s Kinesiology department. There, she taught undergraduate courses in Recreational Dance and Recreational Tumbling, emphasizing physical literacy, coordination, and inclusive fitness. Her lessons were tailored to accommodate diverse student backgrounds and skill levels.
Before joining Limestone, Martin served as the head coach at Fontbonne University for two seasons following two years as the program’s graduate assistant. While at Fontbonne, she helped guide the dance team to multiple top-five national finishes.
A versatile choreographer, Martin also spent time as an independent consultant, designing creative routines in styles ranging from pom, jazz, and hip-hop to tap, ballet, and spirit cheer. She has worked closely with coaching staffs across the Midwest and South, delivering choreography and instruction to high school and collegiate teams alike—including GMG High School (IA), Roland-Story High School Cheer (IA), Forest City High School Dance (IA), and Bayless High School (MO), among others.
Martin is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa and holds a master’s degree from Fontbonne University, completed in 2022.
