University of North Dakota Athletics

Shannon O'Connor began cheering at the University of North Dakota in 1988 and cheered at UND for four years. He was also UND's mascot for three years as "Thunder the Bleacher Creature."

He has 22 years of cheer coaching experience at the high school and college levels (3-time head coach at UND), and has 19 years of cheer competition judging experience at the state, regional, and national levels.

O'Connor is in his 14th year with the Universal Cheerleaders Association as a head cheer instructor, and is the current UCA State Director for North Dakota and South Dakota. He is an AACCA, NFHS, and USASF certifier. He has a master's degree in education, teaches fifth grade in Grand Forks, and his wife is Dena.