Samantha Sopko is originally from Holbrook, New York, and graduated from Sachem North High School in 2009. She was a varsity captain, 2X Long Island Champion and 2X UCA Finalist during her cheering years. She has cheered and coached at the high school and collegiate levels, and has been coaching for 18 years. Sopko earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from Dowling College in 2014, where she also cheered, and earned her Master’s Degree in Athletic Administration from Concordia University in 2018. Coach Sopko coached her alma mater for 6 seasons from middle school to varsity, and during her last season with the Arrows, they became UCA National Finalists. She then moved to Virginia, and began coaching for Averett University, and during her 2nd season with the Cougars, she took over as the head coach. During her two seasons with the Cougars, Sopko led them to 2 National Championships and an undefeated season.

When Sam moved to North Carolina she started the program at Alston Ridge Middle School coaching the Warriors for 2 seasons before moving to the Varsity level at Panther Creek. During her 2 seasons at Panther Creek she earned the 2021 Coach of The Year award, helped the Catamounts secure their first-ever UCA Regional Championship, 2nd place finish at the state championship, and 2023 Nfinity National Championship title. Sopko was a previous all-star cheerleader and coach at Gravity Cheer on Long Island, teaching tumbling classes, choreography, coaching teams and teaching flexibility, strength and conditioning.

In addition, Sopko is a certified cheerleading judge and has judged in NY, VA, and NC most recently was selected and was on the judging panel for the NCHSAA State Championship in 2023. Her husband Kyle is the Green Level Men’s Varsity Lacrosse coach as well.