Brandi Taylor-Johansen enters her 11th season as the Spirit Squad Director and dance coach at Utah State University Eastern. Since taking over the program, Taylor-Johansen has helped establish the Eagles as a nationally competitive junior college dance program while emphasizing athletic development, teamwork and personal growth.
Under Taylor-Johansen's leadership, the USU Eastern dance team has earned multiple national championships in jazz and hip-hop and has competed at the NCA/NDA Collegiate Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida. In 2022, the Eagles became the first USU dance or cheer program from the Logan or Price campuses to compete at the NCA/NDA Collegiate Championships, placing third in junior college jazz and fourth in hip-hop. In 2025, the team earned silver medals in both jazz and hip-hop at the NDA College Championship.
Taylor-Johansen has also helped expand the program's presence through performances, community events and creative projects. Her teams have represented USU Eastern throughout the region while also earning recognition for their dance films and creative work.
In addition to coaching, Taylor-Johansen teaches through the Kinesiology and Health Science department and serves as the director of the spirit squad. She works closely with student-athletes both on and off the floor, helping them develop confidence, discipline and leadership skills while representing USU Eastern.
Taylor-Johansen continues to build the USU Eastern spirit program through competitive success, community involvement and opportunities for student-athletes to grow through dance.
