Taylor Hartley serves as the Varsity Head Cheerleading Coach at Apex High School, bringing more than a decade of experience and a lifelong passion for the sport to the Cougar program. Originally from Hillsborough, North Carolina, Coach Hartley participated in dance, gymnastics, softball, and basketball before cheering for seven years, including one year at UNC–Chapel Hill, where she competed as a flyer, base, backspot, and tumbler. She holds a Master of Education in School Counseling from Liberty University and maintains multiple certifications in cheer and dance safety, fundamentals of coaching, and CPR/First Aid.

Coach Hartley’s philosophy extends far beyond wins and losses. Her primary goal is to develop strong character and teach meaningful life lessons through the cheer program. She emphasizes unity, resilience, accountability, and kindness, teaching her athletes that leadership does not require a title and that how they treat one another matters most. Consistency, high expectations, and modeling positive behavior are central to her leadership style, with the belief that championships naturally follow when trust and dedication are firmly in place.

Under Coach Hartley’s leadership, the Apex cheer program has achieved sustained success at the conference and state levels while maintaining a strong family culture. One of her proudest moments came when her team faced significant adversity and responded with unity, perseverance, and purpose, honoring a teammate’s memory while continuing to compete at a high level. Coach Hartley values the unmatched support of the Apex community and athletic department. Outside of coaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, traveling, being active outdoors, and staying involved in her church. She takes great pride in giving back to the sport that shaped her life.