Todd Bragan

Owner/Program Director

Coach Todd has been in the Cheer industry for over 25 years. Growing up with parents who ran a gymnastic program, it was only fitting that becoming a coach would come naturally. As a cheerleader in college at UAB, he found a passion for the sport and soon after college opened a gym in Trussville. Over two decades of coaching all-star, middle school, high schools and colleges lead to the creation of Trussville Academy of Cheer. Today coach Todd wears many hats as a gym owner, choreographer, judge, cheer music producer, coach, Husband to a Cheer Coach, Daddy to a 14-year-old cheerleader and an 8-year-old baseball player.

Coach Todd founded TAC on the principles that every athlete, no matter the age or skill level, holds intrinsic value. He hopes and prays that every athlete finds their potential while being a part of Trussville Academy of Cheer.

Amy Bragan

Owner/Program Director

Coach Amy has been involved in cheerleading since 7th grade, developing a lifelong passion for the sport. She grew up cheering and competing with her school team at Cathedral Christian. During all four years of high school, she was consistently nominated for UCA All-American at summer camps. She went on to cheer for three years as a co-ed athlete at UAB, where she also competed at UCA College Nationals.

Coach Amy brings extensive experience to her role, with over 25 years coaching school teams, 13 years coaching competitive All-Star teams, and more than 20 years as a choreographer. While in college, she met Todd, and she knew their shared love for cheerleading would one day lead them to become gym owners together. They later welcomed their daughter, Makayla, who is also involved in cheerleading making it truly a family affair, as they often say.

Coach Amy is passionate about ensuring every athlete feels valued and important. She strives to create a safe and positive environment that reflects the love of the Lord Jesus to everyone who walks through the doors. She believes her calling is to minister to athletes and their families through cheerleading, while helping instill lessons that will stay with them for a lifetime.

Hannah Messer

Assistant Program Director

Coach Hannah has been involved in the cheerleading industry for over 15 years. She grew up competing before switching to school cheer at Briarwood, where her love for the sport, especially Gameday, really took root. After graduating, she returned to Briarwood to share her passion with the next generation of athletes, coaching both JV and Varsity for two years.

Coach Hannah has now found her home at Trussville Academy of Cheer, where she continues to pour into athletes of all ages. Her favorite part of coaching is watching athletes grow in confidence and teamwork while keeping the spirit of cheer alive on the competition floor. She strives to create an encouraging environment where athletes not only improve their skills but also develop leadership, resilience, and a true love for the sport.

Hunter Maples

Class and Team Coach

Coach Hunter has big love for the sport and experience on the mat. Former all-star cheer and along the way became a 5-time National Champion and The One Finals Champion. He’s all about coaching and helping athletes grow whether they’re just starting out or chasing big goals. He believes in hard work, teamwork, and bringing the hype every step of the way. Making sure the girls grow in and out of the gym with confidence in themselves!

Kristen Alexander

Team Coach

Kristen Alexander, a native of Ragland, Alabama, brings over 14 years of All-Star cheer experience and 6 years of school cheer to the mat. She represented Team USA in 2004 and 2006, competing internationally in London, England, and continued her cheer career at Troy University. Now in her 14th year of coaching, Kristen is passionate about helping athletes grow in confidence and believe in themselves both on and off the mat.

Kali Cahalan

Class and Team Coach

Coach Kali is currently a senior at Hewitt-Trussville High School. She is a member of the Hewitt-Trussville Varsity sideline and competition team. She is going to Troy University in the fall, and she will be a part of their cheer team. The bonds that she has created with the athletes are truly something special and it is so rewarding to see their faces light up when performing! She loves helping them reach their fullest potential and watching them have fun.

Avery Ingram

Class Instructor

Coach Avery is a motivated high school student at Hewitt Trussville who enjoys learning new skills and working with others. I have cheered for 8 years. I also have competed at UCA Nationals taking home 2nd place! I am responsible, organized, and have strong communication and teamwork skills. I especially enjoy helping and working with younger children. I like creating a fun, positive, and supportive environment for them to learn and grow. I am excited to gain experience and contribute to a team while helping kids build confidence and enjoy tumbling.

Carlton Kirk

Class Instructor

Coach Carlton has been a competitive dancer for her whole life and did tumbling/acro on the side! Carlton has been connected to a dance agency and has traveled with many dance conventions. Through this she has learned how to work with kids and has grown her love with helping kids learn and grow as athletes. Carlton teaches classes form Cheer Pups, Intro, and Level 1! Carlton has been working at TAC for nearly 3 years and cannot wait to continue to teach when she graduates high school. By working at TAC, she has learned the importance of kids being able to have fun in her tumbling classes and strives for them to be hard workers and be able to learn something new every day! 

Jacob Stancil

Class Instructor/Co-ed Stunt Coach

Coach Jacob has been involved in cheerleading for over 7 years. Born and raised in Guntersville, Alabama, he has always had a strong passion for athletics. He began his cheer journey in 2019 at Jacksonville State University, where he cheered on game days for the Gamecocks.

Since college, Jacob has traveled across Alabama, Georgia, and Oregon assisting with stunt clinics for a variety of collegiate, professional, and privately owned cheer programs.

Jacob is now a coach at the Trussville Academy of Cheer, where he works with athletes in Levels 2–4. You can catch him at Open Gym on Wednesday nights, always moving around and jumping in wherever he’s needed, whether it’s stunting or tumbling. His goal is for every athlete to walk in ready to work and leave feeling accomplished.