Monica Aldama: 5 Things About The Coach In Netflix's 'Cheer'

“Cheer” has just arrived on Netflix, offering yet another documentary series that is worth binge watching. Unlike the movie “Bring It On” which focuses on rivalries and tight uniforms, “Cheer” tells of the real-life sacrifices and triumphs of Navarro College’s bunch of world-class cheerleaders with their longtime coach Monica Aldama at the helm.

The new Netflix show closely knits the story of Monica Aldama—how she rose to the top and successfully carved out a niche for herself in the cheerleading world. Here are five things you should know about the renowned coach:

1. She holds a Master’s Degree

After graduating from Corsicana High School, Monica studied B.B. A. Finance at the University of Texas in Austin. She then enrolled at the University of Texas at Tyler and successfully earned a Master of Business Administration there.

2. She is a married mother of two

Monica’s Instagram offers a glimpse of her whole family, which includes her husband Chris, son Austin, and daughter Ally. Back in September, she shared a photo of them from the night of her induction into the Navarro College Athletic Hall of Fame to celebrate the life-changing occasion.

3. She has brought 14 National Cheer Association championships to her team

Monica’s qualities as a leader have helped the Navarro College’s cheerleading team bring home 14 NCA championships within the competition’s junior college division throughout her tenure. These 14 championships are just some of the many dozens of notable titles she has helped the institution to win over the years, including five Grand National Titles. Her team currently holds the record for the highest score in history at the NCA College Nationals.

4. Her daughter is a cheerleader, too

Monica’s only daughter, Ally, shares Monica’s passion for tumbling. She is also a cheerleader at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and is used to being a champion, just like her mom. Her squad has won the NCA Collegiate National Championship Intermediate Division I trophy in the last three consecutive years.

5. Coaching isn’t her first career

Despite being known as an icon in the cheer industry today, Monica wasn’t originally a cheerleading coach. After graduating, she became the CEO of a company based in New York. After some time, however, she decided to apply for the cheer coach position at Navarro College to pursue her passion for cheerleading.

“Cheer” is now available for streaming on Netflix.