NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola Wolf Pack competitive cheer and dance programs and the New Orleans Saints will have a mutual connection heading into the 2022-2023 academic year, as head coach Dylon Hoffpauir is set to embark on his fourth season with the New Orleans Saints Cheer Krewe, the team announced earlier in July.
Hoffpauir, who was also a member of the LSU cheer team, is entering his fourth season with the Saints, and he was announced as the head coach of the two Loyola programs in April. A Saints Cheer Krewe Team Captain, Hoffpauir is excited to blend his experience with the Saints to help the seven-year Wolf Pack squads.
"Dancing for the NFL has given me so much professional experience that I plan to utilize while coaching at Loyola," he said. "I've been able to work with athletes with varying skill sets, and I think that has set me up to work with the many athletes at Loyola.
"With the Saints, we've been able to create a unique game day experience that combines dancing, tricks, stunting, tumbling and more into eye-catching, entertaining routines. I'd like to pull from that experience to really elevate how the Loyola spirit squads perform and entertain the Wolf Pack."
After his time with the LSU cheer team, the first-year Wolf Pack coach didn't let his dream of dancing professionally fade while working at Walt Disney World as an Entertainment Sub-Captain. He continued to train in hopes of getting an opportunity, and when he moved back to Baton Rouge, he gave it a shot at the formerly-named Saintsations tryout.
"It was a tough tryout, but I made the team that season," he said.
Since that 2019 tryout, Hoffpauir has become a team captain and he also helps with the team's social media efforts. Balancing both the Saints Cheer Krewe responsibilities and his head-coach duties at Loyola will be tough, but he's up for the challenge. In fact, Tuesdays and Thursdays will be the longest days, as the Loyola teams will practice in the morning and his Krewe practices are slated for the evenings.
"It's tricky to balance, but dance and cheer are my biggest passions so it doesn't really feel like work because I'm doing what I love," Hoffpauir added.
It's all worth it for Hoffpauir because after all, his time with the Saints Cheer Krewe has inspired him even more to help the next generation of cheerleaders and dancers.
"Being an NFL Cheerleader has shown me the true potential that I possess, and it's shown me what I can accomplish when I put my mind to it," he said. "I've watched many of my teammates grow into the best versions of themselves on this team, and that inspires me to do the same with the athletes at Loyola. I want them to know it is never about perfection - it's all about progress, and being a Saints dancer taught me that."
You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
