Carissa Collins is in her third year as head coach of the Linfield cheer and stunt squad.
Since taking over as head coach, Collins has increased participation in the program and led Linfield to its first significant placing in national competition. Under Collins' leadership, Linfield's 2021-22 cheer and stunt squad placed ninth at the College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship at Walt Disney World Resort.
Collins graduated from McMinnville High School, where she competed on the varsity squad all four years. Her team placed among the top five at the OSAA State Championships every year between 2012 and 2015, finishing as state runner-up in 2013. Her team also received a top-five placement at USA Nationals in the Large Coed division in both 2013 and 2015. Collins is the 2013 Coed Partner Stunt State Champion and the Coed Multi-base Stunt State Champion. She also placed third in Best All-Around Cheerleader and fourth in the Best Jumps division at the 2015 American Cheer Nationals.
After high school, Collins earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and a bachelor of arts degee in English with honors from the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas. During her time at USM, she was captain of the competitive cheerleading squad. Her team competed at UCA College Nationals, bringing home a top-10 placement in 2019.
Collins is also a current UCA staff member, teaching cheerleading camps all around the country each summer, and is an AACCA certified coach. She has spent five years coaching competitive gymnastics, acrobatics & tumbling, and cheerleading.
Collins resides in Tualatin with her own wildcat, Mr. Frodo.