Vanguard University

Taylor Smith was hired in February 2020 and tasked with developing the newly formed Dance and Pom program and is now the coach of an National Dance Alliance (NDA) National Champion Pom Team. For two seasons, the Blue and Gold fielded a Sideline Cheer team but in entering the 2021-22 school year, the team separated between the sideline squad and a true dance team.  VU began NAIA Competitive Dance competitions in 2022 and Smith guided some sparkling performances in New Orleans at the team's first competitive event.  Vanguard beat four other NAIA schools and landed fourth overall out of nine teams in the team competition. The Lions then finished third of nine teams at the NAIA National Qualifier in York, Nebraska, coming up just short of making the NAIA National Championships. 

The Lions also finished third at the NAIA Qualifier in 2023 in Wichita, Kansas.  In 2024, Smith and the team moved to only one event, the NDA Nationals in Daytona, Florida.  The Blue and Gold flipped from second place in round one of the NAIA Pom event to besting OUAZ in the final round to win the championship.  VU also qualified for the finals in the Hip Hop routine, ending fourth after round two.

Prior to Vanguard

Smith has been dancing for 21 years and has coached dancers of various ages and skill levels for four and a half years. During her time competing, she became a two-time World Champion in Pom and Jazz while also accumulating multiple high-school and college national titles. One of her biggest achievements in coaching includes coaching/choreographing the USA Nationals winning Pom routine.