Charlie Kirk's Mentor and Cheerleading Pioneer, Jeff Webb, 76, Passes Away After a Freak Pickleball Accident

Jeff Webb, a cheerleading pioneer, dubbed the father of modern cheerleading and Charlie Kirk's mentor and friend, has sadly passed away on Thursday, 19 March, at age 76 after a freak pickleball accident.

Webb is a conservative author who is widely credited with transforming competitive cheerleading into a global industry and was the founder of Varsity Spirit and one of the most influential figures in the history of the sport of cheerleading and dance.

Freak Pickleball Accident

The 76-year-old Texas businessman reportedly passed away after a freak pickleball accident. Cheer Daily reported Webb suffered a fall while playing the popular sport two weeks earlier and sustained a severe head injury while playing pickleball in Memphis, Tennessee.

Following the accident, Webb was hospitalised, and his family later made the decision to remove the cheerleading pioneer from his life support.

In an email sent to the Varsity Spirit community, company president Bill Seely confirmed the sudden passing of Webb. In a statement, Varsity Brands said:

'Varsity Brands is saddened by the passing of Jeff Webb, founder of Varsity Spirit and modern cheerleading. Jeff played a pivotal role in shaping cheerleading as it exists today and in building a community that has impacted generations of athletes, coaches, and teams. In recent years, his contributions helped grow the sport both in the United States and globally, including his work with the International Cheer Union, which achieved full recognition by the International Olympic Committee in 2021.'

They added, 'We extend our condolences to Jeff's family and loved ones, and to the many across the spirit community who were influenced by his work.'

Who is Jeff Webb?

Born on 19 January 1950, Webb was a former University of Oklahoma yell leader before he entered the cheer industry, working with Lawrence 'Herkie' Herkimer and the National Cheerleaders Association. He introduced high-energy stunts, tumbling, and pyramid building.

Webb is most prominently known as the 'Father of Modern Cheerleading' as he launched the largest organization in cheerleading, the Universal Cheerleaders Association, in 1974 and later expanded those efforts into Varsity Spirit.

His organization grew into a global enterprise, organizing competitions and training camps, manufacturing the iconic pleated skirts and shells that nearly every school and professional squad wears today, and even struck a landmark deal with ESPN in the 1980s to televise national championships, which catapulted the sport's popularity.

He also helped push cheerleading onto the international stage. As the president of the International Cheer Union, Webb advocated for recognition of cheerleading as a global sport – an effort that led to recognition from the International Olympic Committee and placed cheerleading on a path toward potential Olympic participation.

Jeff Webb, Charlie Kirk's Mentor and Friend

Webb was an early mentor to Kirk, meeting him when he was just 24, and later hailed him as a potential future president before Kirk's assassination last year. Turning Point USA described him as a 'visionary who helped shape generations of young leaders.'

In TPUSA's nearly 10-minute tribute video, the organization wrote: 'A dear friend to Turning Point USA and Charlie. He will be greatly missed.'

Webb had once told One America News Network that Kirk 'had amazing drive.' He added, 'I was overwhelmed with his maturity, his intelligence. He just had so many incredible leadership qualities.'

Following the conservative activist's death, Webb said that Kirk 'had it all — charisma, faith, respect for everyone' before going on to say the US 'may have lost a future president.'

Tributes Flow for Jeff Webb

Online, tributes flooded Webb's Facebook. The Universal Cheerleaders Association also paid tribute to him. They posted a series of photos that honour the 76-year-old.

They wrote: 'It is with a heavy heart we honor our visionary, the founder of UCA & UDA. 💙 Jeff Webb, Employee #1, cared so deeply about what we built together and we are all better for having had Jeff in our lives. Thank you Jeff for creating this world for us. Proudly, we'll continue to carry on his legacy.'

Varsity Spirit also posted a video in memory of Webb. They wrote: 'Join us in honoring the life and legacy of Jeff Webb, founder of Varsity Spirit and modern cheerleading. His impact has built a community that will continue to inspire generations to come.'