Gabriella Rivera joined the Lobo Family in 2020, and she serves as the Lobo Spirit Head Coach. She previously served for five seasons as the coed cheer team coach. As head coach, she oversees the cheer, dance, and mascot programs.
A cheerleader for four years on the coed cheer team and a 2018 graduate of The University of New Mexico, Rivera has accumulated over 11 years of experience leading spirit programs across collegiate, high school, and all-star levels. Rivera brings to UNM a well-versed skill set in routine structure and an understanding of choreography for building clean, compelling, and crowd-engaging performances.
In her role as the coed cheer team coach, she led UNM’s coed squad in game-day performances and competitions, while also prioritizing community engagement. Among the highlights under her guidance, the Lobos placed 11th nationally in the Game Day division at the 2023 UCA College National Championship and first in the Sideline division at the 2024 USA College Championship. Beyond her role as the team coach, Rivera also planned spirit fundraising events, coordinated team practices, and oversaw academics, ensuring academics remained a priority for the student-athletes.
Before being hired at UNM in 2020, Rivera spent two years at Hope Christian High School in Albuquerque as the varsity cheer coach, overseeing all aspects of the program, including designing and implementing routines and choreography. Rivera got her start with the Royal Cheer Academy and Cheer Central Suns as the tumbling and all-star cheer coach, a role she held for five years.
Rivera graduated from UNM with a B.S. in signed language interpreting.