Raven Gau

Email:

rgau@iwcc.edu
Year:

8th
Title:

Head Coach/Spirit Coordinator

Bio

Spirit Coordinator and Head Cheer Coach, Raven Gau, takes on her eighth season leading the Iowa Western Spirit program. Coach Gau has guided and led the Reiver cheer team to a pair of UCA National Championships and four World University Cup titles during her tenure. The local native, a graduate of Lewis Central High School, has taken the cheer program from a team of 25 members in her first season to over 85 athletes, competing in four divisions (Large Coed, Small Coed, AllGirl, Gameday w/ mascot). Gau has established a culture and structure within the program that has allowed it to grow and thrive. This 2025-26 season, Coach Gau brings on additional new coaching staff to support the growth in the program, continued healthy partnerships in the community, and a new mascot!

“I am so excited to take these next steps to enhance our cheer program even more. With the addition of stipend coaches Kristin Kennedy, Taysia Dominguez, Nathan Hays, and Becky Spataro coming on board, I feel strongly that we have the best and most well-rounded collegiate cheer coaching staff in the area. On top of that our local All-Star gym, Central Athletics, has opened its doors to provide our student-athletes a second home to train consistently for another season. "It has required a lot of personal sacrifice and dedication to build the program to this point. I am grateful for the incredible people surrounding me who have helped and supported me along the way. I can't think of a better time to join this program and grow with us."

Coach Gau is a former elite gymnast and D1A collegiate cheerleader (University of Central Florida), bringing an extensive amount of knowledge and passion to the program. She has sent countless athletes to the Division 1 level and other top cheer schools across the nation after their time at Iowa Western. Being a junior college product herself and a former Reiver alumnus, she has become an expert at the transfer process and getting athletes to the next level.

Stay up to date with Coach Gau and the Reiver cheer team through the 2025-26 cheer season by following them on social media.

INSTAGRAM - @reivercheer

FACEBOOK - Iowa Western Cheerleading

X (Twitter) - @ReiverCheer