COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State’s dance team, under the leadership of Melissa McGhee, has added six members to its 2020-21 roster and also bolstered its coaching staff with the retention of Katie Devine as a volunteer assistant coach.
Devine, who was a member of the team from 2015-19, helped the Buckeyes in a coaching capacity last year, consulting primarily on Nationals. As an athlete, she twice was voted as the recipient of the Leadership Award, was a captain her season year and the team’s MVP. She’ll be back for a full season in 2020-21 and joins a staff that includes McGhee and Patrick Carmichael.
Like Devine, Carmichael is also a Buckeye – he was a cheerleader from 1997-2001 and has been a coach with the dance team since 2010. Carmichael was an integral part of helping the team clinch many of their “firsts” over the past ten years, including the program’s first National Championship in 2018. “Pat is absolutely a huge part of the heart and soul of our team. He brings so much passion for the University and has been a fantastic partner to help grow our program over the years. We are very lucky to have him!”
“I’m very excited to add Katie to our staff as the three of us make a great team,” said McGhee. “We all want the same thing, which is to honor the tradition and excellence of Ohio State and invest holistically in our student-athletes to ensure they are successful during their time here and post-college.”
The six newest members of the roster hail from four different states, including two from Ohio. They are:
“This is undoubtedly a talented group, but what makes me most excited about them joining our program is their character,” said McGhee. “They’ll fit in very well into our team and the larger campus community. We’ve got such an exciting and gifted group of dancers! I am very much looking forward to helping the entire team maximize our potential this next season.”
The Buckeyes’ dance program is coming off a national championship in the jazz division at the 2020 Universal Cheer & Dance Association College National Championships and a silver medal in the pom category. The national championship was Ohio State’s fourth title in the past three years.