Nine current and former Stanford cheerleaders have publicly accused head coach Sarah Levine of fostering an abusive environment during her 18-year tenure leading the elite university’s squad.
The group detailed their allegations in interviews with the Stanford Daily, with two speaking under partial anonymity to protect their online presence and seven remaining fully anonymous due to fears of retaliation. Their accounts paint a portrait of a program where public humiliation, neglected injuries, and pressure to perform through pain were commonplace.
Rush, a former cheerleader, described the program as “probably the most visibly abusive experience that I’ve ever had in my life.” He joined the growing chorus of voices after suffering what medical records confirmed was a minor concussion during an October 2024 practice session.
His injury occurred roughly a week and a half after a separate bicycle accident had left him with forehead stitches. Despite expressing concerns about returning to stunting, Rush said Levine assured him he would be fine. During that practice, another cheerleader fell from a stunt while Rush was spotting, and the impact landed on his head.
“I pointed out my scar on my head and said I want to be super careful it does not [get hit] and take the stitches out,” he told the Daily.
Even after walking off the court in pain, Rush alleged Levine instructed him to repeat the stunt. That evening, he began struggling to concentrate and stuttering while speaking with a friend. After contacting Levine about his belief that he had suffered a concussion, he claimed she dismissed the possibility and suggested waiting until morning to see Stanford Athletics doctors. Rush instead went to the emergency room that night and received his diagnosis.
His frustration deepened upon learning Levine had allegedly told teammates his concussion stemmed from the bicycle accident rather than the practice incident.
“I got really upset by it because I warned her that this would happen, and she told me that wouldn’t happen,” he told the Daily. “And then I got the concussion, and now she’s telling me it’s my fault for getting the concussion, not hers.”
Rush eventually returned to the team but quit following a second head strike during a stunt, when he alleged Levine yelled at him for walking off the court.
Ashley, another former cheerleader, described a serious back injury sustained during an additional practice held on a hard volleyball court with temporary mats rather than the team’s usual spring floor. She claimed concerns about gaps between the mats were brushed aside by Levine and assistant coaches.
After falling forward while attempting a new stunt and experiencing sharp pain shooting up her back and spine, Ashley said coaches expected her to resume stunting after missing only one or two practices. Months later, she reinjured the same area during another practice. Even after seeking medical attention, she felt pressured to provide extensive documentation to justify sitting out of performances.
The allegations extended beyond physical safety into what multiple former members characterized as a toxic culture. Cheerleaders described Levine allegedly berating students while they were crying, publicly mocking mistakes, and cultivating an atmosphere where teammates reported on one another to gain her approval.
Mark, a former member who left the squad after the 2023-24 season, filed a formal complaint with Stanford Athletics in October 2025. The Daily obtained and reviewed his complaint, in which he wrote: “She verbally abused and humiliated me by yelling at me in front of the entire team. I was met with unprofessionalism. Levine was not performing constructive coaching. Rather [her coaching] was a demeaning act.”
Mark said the experience led him to take antidepressants, and he eventually departed questioning whether he could endure another year.
Levine has not responded to requests for comment. An Assistant Athletics Director told the Daily: “Stanford Athletics will continue to prioritize and support the health, safety and well-being of all individuals affiliated with its student support groups.”
The university and Stanford Athletics have also been contacted for comment by other outlets.