Haley Rakocy

Since joining Indian Hill in 2025, Haley Rakocy has brought enthusiasm, positivity, and a commitment to personal growth to the Braves Cheerleading program. As the Varsity Head Cheerleading Coach, she strives to create an environment where every student-athlete feels welcomed, supported, challenged, and encouraged to become the best version of themselves.

For Coach Rakocy, cheerleading is about much more than performances on the sidelines. It is an opportunity for student-athletes to build confidence, develop accountability, learn to support others, and discover what they are capable of accomplishing.

From Student-Athlete to Coach

A native of Lewis Center, Ohio, Coach Rakocy attended Olentangy Orange High School, where she participated in cheerleading and gymnastics.

She continued her cheerleading career at Xavier University, competing for three and a half years and serving as a team captain during her senior year. Her collegiate experience helped shape her understanding of leadership, teamwork, and the importance of creating a positive team culture.

Rakocy graduated from Xavier with a Bachelor's Degree in Middle Childhood Education and currently serves as a sixth-grade mathematics teacher at Batavia Middle School.

Her experience as both an educator and coach allows her to connect the lessons taught in the classroom with those learned through athletics.

Coaching Journey

Before arriving at Indian Hill, Coach Rakocy served as a cheerleading coach at Hyde Park School, where she developed her passion for helping young athletes build their skills and confidence.

That experience eventually led her to Indian Hill, where she joined a growing cheerleading program committed to creating meaningful opportunities for student-athletes at every level.

Why She Coaches

Coach Rakocy's motivation for coaching begins with her love for cheerleading and her desire to share that passion with others.

"I became a coach to share my love for cheerleading with students. Being able to create a welcoming environment that is encouraging and productive for all students is my top priority."

She believes the most effective programs create a space where athletes feel comfortable challenging themselves, making mistakes, and trying something new.

Coaching Philosophy

As both a teacher and coach, Rakocy strongly believes in the purpose of education-based athletics.

"Education-based athletics means focusing on education first. It is learning the balance between being an athlete while still prioritizing schoolwork. I believe it prepares students for college and the real world by teaching them how to prioritize and manage their time."

Her coaching philosophy centers around three important values:

Respect – Student-athletes should demonstrate respect for themselves and for the people around them.

Accountability – Being part of a team means taking responsibility for your preparation, effort, attitude, and commitments.

Self-Confidence – Every athlete should learn to believe in themselves and develop the courage to take on new challenges.

These values guide how Coach Rakocy approaches practices, performances, and her relationships with student-athletes.

Encouraging Every Athlete

When athletes look back on their time in the Indian Hill Cheerleading program, Coach Rakocy hopes they remember how much she believed in them.

"I hope they remember my encouragement. I want to push all students to be the best version of themselves while still maintaining a healthy environment."

Her goal is to challenge student-athletes without losing sight of the importance of creating a positive and supportive team experience.

A Program Focused on Growth

Coach Rakocy believes what makes cheerleading unique is that there is always another skill to develop, another challenge to attempt, and another opportunity to improve.

"My program is unique because I focus on encouraging growth first. There is not necessarily one final destination in cheerleading. Growing throughout the time spent in the program is the overall aspiration."

That philosophy allows success to look different for every student-athlete. For one athlete, success may mean mastering a new tumbling skill. For another, it may mean developing the confidence to perform in front of a crowd or becoming a stronger teammate and leader.

For Coach Rakocy, success is defined by growth and the willingness to try new things.

Why Indian Hill?

What stands out most to Coach Rakocy about Indian Hill is the strength of its community.

"The students and their families always strive for the best, and they push me to be the best coach I can be."

That shared commitment to excellence creates an environment where coaches and student-athletes can continually challenge one another to improve while building meaningful relationships along the way.

Beyond Cheerleading

Away from coaching and teaching, Coach Rakocy enjoys crafting, tumbling, and singing.

Quick Hits

• Hometown: Lewis Center, Ohio

• High School: Olentangy Orange High School

• College: Xavier University

• Degree: Bachelor's in Middle Childhood Education

• Favorite Team: Alabama Football

• Favorite Athlete Growing Up: Simone Biles

• Favorite Book: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

• Favorite Movie: Good Will Hunting

• Favorite Pregame Meal: Pasta

• Favorite Vacation Destination: Portsmouth, Maine

• Favorite Quote: "You can't go back. The best you can do is forgive yourself, take a deep breath, and get to work on the next challenge." — Simone Biles

Rapid Fire

• Morning or Night? Morning

• Beach or Mountains? Beach

• Dogs or Cats? Cats

• Coffee or Tea? Tea

• Sweet or Salty? Sweet

• Nike or Adidas? Nike

• Summer or Winter? Summer

• Disney or Universal? Disney

• Golf or Pickleball? Golf

• Win a Championship or Coach an All-American? Win a Championship