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Episode: 302

Title: Leadership Under Pressure with Amanda Gaines | University of Minnesota Dance

Bio: Coach Amanda Gaines has been a part of the Gopher dance team for 19 years. First as an athlete from 2005-2009, then as an assistant coach from 2009-13, and then as the head coach.

Gaines became the head coach in April 2013 and held that role until March 2017. After taking some time off, she resumed that role in 2020.

During her tenure, Gaines helped the Gophers to a national championship as an athlete (2006), eight national championships (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) as an assistant coach, and 10 titles as the head coach in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

In all, Minnesota has won 23 dance national titles with Gaines a part of 20 of them.

Under her watch, the Gophers also represented Team USA for the 2025 International Cheer and Dance Competition, where the team won gold in the Pom and silver in the Jazz division. It was the third time that Minnesota represented the US National Team, having also done so in 2010 and 2014, under Gaines’ leadership.

Today, James and Amanda discuss the psychological frameworks and principles she operates from that help her navigate the pressure, tension, chaos, and the mindsets & behaviors she instills within the team so they can go on the floor and be at their best.

Topics:
Coaching strategies and style that support growth and sustainability
Practices she uses to build a winning Culture
How she handles pressure/expectations
What she suggests coaches get better at
What she looks for when recruiting top talent
A message to parents before putting their children in dance

Connect with Amanda
Ig: @amandagaines_

Connect with James
IG: @James_silvas
Tik Tok: @James_Silvas
YT: youtube.com/jamessilvas
Web: www.Bethatonepercent.com
Web: www.JamesSilvas.com