VARSITY HEAD COACH:
SAMANTHA DEAN
Coach Sam is in her 4th year at Rochester High School and in 2025 joined the main office staff at Rochester High School as the Attendance Secretary. Prior to coming to Rochester, Coach Sam was the Varsity Coach at Plymouth High School for 7 years. She was also the Head Cheerleading Coach at Wayne State University from 2017-2020. Prior to coaching at Plymouth Coach Sam was the Junior Varsity Cheer Coach and Varsity Assistant Coach at Livonia Stevenson for 3 years and before that Walled Lake Western for 3 years. Coach Sam’s coaching career started when she was just 13 at the Dearborn Lions little league cheer program, where she coached the varsity team for 8 years. Coach Sam has a 8 year old daughter named Paisley who loves cheer just as much as her mom and a 2 year old named Daxtyn. Coach Sam graduated from Dearborn High school in 2008 where she cheered and played softball all 4 years, and received her Associates degree from Washtenaw community college in 2010. In 2015 Coach Sam started her own business and became the owner and designer of iSparkle Bows. Coach Sam served on the CCCAM board (Competitive Cheer Coaches Association of Michigan) as the All-State Director in 2016 and served on the Executive Board as the Membership Director from 2022-24. Coach Sam had the amazing honor to be voted the 2016, 2018, 2020, 2023 and recently the 2025 District Coach of the Year as well as State Coach of the year in 2020. In Coach Sam's first year at Rochester she helped her team earn the OAA League Championship, District Runner-Up, Regional Runner-Up and MHSAA Division 1 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP! In 2025 Coach Sam & her Staff lead the team to an UNDEFEATED regular season, 3-Peat OAA Championship, District Champions, Regional Runner-Up & State Runner-Up.
JUNIOR VARSITY COACH:
JANAE WASHINGTON
Coach Janae is in her 2nd year at Rochester and was the former head JV Coach at Plymouth High School. Coach Janae took over the JV team here at Rochester in November for the Competitive Season and helped her team earn many first place wins, and gain new skills and confidence. She has studied under Coach Sam since she graduated in 2020. Coach Janae has been involved in cheer and pom since the age of 5. Coach Janae is currently double majoring in Marketing and Human Resources. She is so excited to continue to grow as a coach at Rochester!
FRESHMEN HEAD COACH: ALYSSA HALL
Coach Alyssa is in her first year at Rochester and is excited to be part of such a strong program. She cheered for four years on the varsity team at Anchor Bay High School before continuing her cheer career at Oakland University. Prior to joining Rochester, she spent two years coaching at Reuther Middle School. This past Competitive Season, she took over the Freshmen team and looks forward to continuing to develop new RHS cheerleaders. She is passionate about helping her athletes grow in their skills and confidence while being part of the Rochester cheer family!
Coach Alyssa is in her first year at Rochester and is excited to be part of such a strong program. She cheered for four years on the varsity team at Anchor Bay High School before continuing her cheer career at Oakland University. Prior to joining Rochester, she spent two years coaching at Reuther Middle School. This past Competitive Season, she took over the Freshmen team and looks forward to continuing to develop new RHS cheerleaders. She is passionate about helping her athletes grow in their skills and confidence while being part of the Rochester cheer family!
VARSITY ASSISTANT COACH:
AMANDA BYERS
Coach Amanda was a former Head Coach of Livonia Churchill for 10 years, in which she won multiple Division Championships in the KLAA, repeated Regional Qualifications, and won District Coach of the Year in 2021. She coached under Coach Sam, at Plymouth High School, where she helped with the success of a District Championship and a State Finals appearance. In a transition phase, she took time off to pursue her career and was a choreographer for two State Finals teams in her downtime; but now has returned to coaching at Rochester High School as a Program Assistant. In her spare time, she is a Rapid Response Nurse Practitioner and a Nursing Instructor for Wayne State University. She loves her family, has a new baby girl, and enjoys cats and Harry Potter. She looks forward to being apart of the Falcon family!
VARSITY ASSISTANT COACH:
JUDAH WASHINGTON
Coach Judah is in her 4th year at Rochester and started her coaching career in 2018 as a manager and studied under Coach Sam for two years. From 2020 to 2022 she took on the position as head coach for Plymouth Junior Varsity. Judah says “I enjoy coaching because I’m able to help young athletes grow a passion and a love for the sport that I cherish so much.” Coach Judah is excited and ready to start year #2 at Rochester high school! GO FALCONS!
VARSITY ASSISTANT COACH :
DEVON GILBERT
Coach Devon is in his 2nd year at Rochester High School. Prior to coming to Rochester, Coach Devon was the Head Varsity Coach at Edsel ford for 3 years. Coach Devon cheered for 15 years and ended his athletic career at Concordia University. His passion for cheer goes beyond the mat, and he is so excited and blessed to be able to continue to share that here at RHS!
Go Blue!
PROGRAM ASSISTANT COACH:
SARA KEMPTON
Hi I’m coach Sara! I have been coaching cheerleading since I was 15 years old and have coached various levels and ages. I am currently a radiation therapist and am in grad school to complete my masters degree in medical dosimetry through the university of Wisconsin. I enjoy going to the beach, taking my dog for hikes, and reading. In a virtual role I will be interacting with athletes to help them gain strength and improve their technique. Can’t wait for the season to start!
SARA KEMPTON
Hi I’m coach Sara! I have been coaching cheerleading since I was 15 years old and have coached various levels and ages. I am currently a radiation therapist and am in grad school to complete my masters degree in medical dosimetry through the university of Wisconsin. I enjoy going to the beach, taking my dog for hikes, and reading. In a virtual role I will be interacting with athletes to help them gain strength and improve their technique. Can’t wait for the season to start!