RICHARDSON, Texas – The University of Texas at Dallas Department of Athletics has officially assumed oversight of the Comet spirit programs, bringing cheer, dance and mascot operations under the athletics umbrella as part of an enhanced commitment to the student-athlete and game-day experience.

The move aligns the spirit programs more closely with UT Dallas Athletics' mission to create an engaging environment for student-athletes, fans and the entire campus community. As part of the transition, UTD has hired Katie Hutto as the Director of Spirit and head cheer coach and Annah Lee as head coach of the Power Dancers.

"Bringing the spirit programs under the athletics umbrella is a direct investment in the student experience," said Angela Marin, Director of Athletics.

"Our spirit programs are the heartbeat of game day, bringing unmatched energy, pride and unity to our campus.

"Integrating them into the athletic department gives these dedicated student-athletes the resources, support and recognition they deserve while elevating the entire game-day experience for our whole student body.

"Our spirit teams enrich the student experience, amplify school pride and create a greater sense of community for the entire UT Dallas family."

In addition to the cheer and power dance teams, the transition also includes Temoc, UT Dallas' beloved mascot and a beloved figure in the university community. Created by alumnus Aaron Aryanpur when the Comets joined the NCAA in 1998, Temoc works alongside the cheerleaders and power dancers to promote school spirit at athletic contests and university events throughout the year, serving as one of the institution's most recognizable ambassadors.

 

Hutto joined UTD after serving as Assistant Athletic Director for Spirit and Fan Experience, head cheer coach, and head dance coach at the University of Texas at Tyler since 2023. During her tenure, she revitalized the Patriots spirit program, growing participation from 10 student-athletes to more than 60 members while maintaining exceptional retention rates. Under her leadership, the program won a historic NCA Collegiate National Championship and consistently led the athletics department in community service and student engagement.

A 2010 graduate of the University of Texas at Tyler and a member of the institution's inaugural dance team, Hutto returned to her alma mater after successful coaching and teaching stops throughout East Texas. Before joining UT Tyler, she served as a cheer coach, dance instructor, and musical choreographer at Tyler Legacy High School, where she helped guide the school's Game Day Cheer program to a UIL finals appearance and a top-20 finish among 6A Division II programs. She also choreographed the school's acclaimed production of Hairspray.

Earlier in her career, Hutto coached at Wylie High School and taught dance at Caldwell Arts Academy. She also spent several years as an educator in public schools, earning recognition for instructional excellence and student achievement while teaching English, reading, writing, and elementary education courses.

Lee joins UTD after serving as Head All-Star Director at Centre for Dance in Richardson, where she founded and led a competitive dance program focused on preparing dancers for high school, collegiate, and professional opportunities. In that role, she developed a year-round training curriculum emphasizing technical excellence, performance quality, discipline, and leadership while overseeing recruitment initiatives, showcases, auditions, and community engagement efforts. 

In addition to her work at Centre for Dance, Lee serves as a dance instructor with National Dance Alliance (NDA), where she has educated and mentored collegiate dancers from across the country using nationally recognized training curriculum focused on technical development, leadership, and performance readiness. She has also worked extensively with MA Dance Nation as both an instructor and judge, teaching hundreds of dancers throughout Texas and evaluating competitive performances in a variety of dance styles, including jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and pom. 

Lee's collegiate dance background includes four years as a member of the Orange Pride Dance Team at Sam Houston State University, where she represented the university at athletic, competitive, and community events. During her career with the program, she earned a leadership position and was part of five NDA National Championship teams.