Class of 2025 - Inductee

Athletic Director, Cummings High School – Alamance-Burlington Schools (NC)

Dr. Cherie Pettiford is being inducted into the Gipper Hall of Fame for the way she has rebuilt an entire athletic program around servant leadership, equity, and relentless care for her student-athletes, coaches, and community.

As Athletic Director at Cummings High School, Cherie has transformed their program into one defined by accountability, communication, and competitive excellence. Under her leadership, Cummings has earned 21 state playoff appearances, 4 team state championships, and 8 individual state champions, while raising expectations in the classroom and on the field. She created both a Player/Parent Athletic Handbook and a Coaches Handbook, setting clear standards for academics, behavior, communication, and sportsmanship so every stakeholder knows what success looks like.

One nominator put it simply:

“She is a hard working, dedicated AD who works tirelessly to provide opportunities for students and athletes.”

Cherie’s impact is especially powerful in a low-income, historically underserved school community. She ensures that all student-athletes—regardless of background, ability level, or personal challenges—have equitable access to support, transportation, and resources. She has rebuilt the school’s Booster Club, built partnerships with local churches and organizations, and intentionally hires former student-athletes as coaches, creating a powerful cycle of mentorship and representation.

A colleague shared:

“Dr. Pettiford has built a culture of equity and community… welcoming all students to try out for teams and attend events.”

Cherie’s leadership and innovation go far beyond a typical AD job description. In addition to her full AD responsibilities, she drives morning and afternoon bus routes, coaches multiple sports, and steps in personally when a team is at risk—like taking over a program herself so students didn’t lose their season when a coach had to step away. She advocates tirelessly for her coaches by securing funding for statewide clinics, upgrading equipment and facilities, and making sure they’re treated as professionals.

On a typical day, Cherie runs the morning bus route, teaches PE, manages AD operations, runs the afternoon bus route, and then oversees or host games and practices.

All of this, she has done while recently completing her Doctor of Education in Sports and Business Management, modeling lifelong learning and professional excellence. Cherie shows up to nearly every athletic event—even when she has no scheduled duties—and is described as “a student of the profession” who is always looking for the next way to serve her kids and community.

Dr. Cherie Pettiford embodies what the Gipper Hall of Fame exists to celebrate: a heart-first leader who quietly changes lives every day, building a program where every student feels seen, supported, and capable of greatness.