Cheer: Monica Aldama’s Age & Why She’s Criticized For Being Too Tough

In 2020, on Cheer season 1, Monica Aldama rose to fame as the head coach of the Navarro Bulldogs squad. She first took over Navarro’s cheer program in 1995, when she began rebuilding it from the ground. up. Since 2000, the now-famous Navarro Bulldogs have won 14 NCA National Championships and five “Grand National” designations (meaning that they were the team with the highest overall score in that year’s competition). Monica’s impressive record has earned her a reputation as one of the toughest coaches in the sport. 

Born on February 9, 1972, the almost 49-year old coach is much older than most of her contemporaries, such as rival coach Vontae Johnson. Critics claim that this puts her at a disadvantage in a sport that is evolving so rapidly. Detractors feel that the personal experience that younger coaches bring from their own performance time on the mat is much more relevant than what older coaches like Monica can offer.

However, Monica’s success rate in the sport shows that she’s a force to be reckoned with. The Bulldogs hold the record for the highest score ever achieved at NCA College Nationals. They won this award while Corsicana native Monica Aldama was coaching. While she’s successful, some people think she pushes too hard.

She’s Tough But Can Be Soft

While most fans of the show love Monica for the tough love that she gives to her cheerleaders as she plays a motherly role in their lives, she is no stranger to backlash and criticism. On several occasions, she has been accused of lacking empathy and even ignoring the injuries of her team members. At the end of season one, there was a notorious storyline about Morgan being afraid to tell Monica that she was having rib pain. The cheerleader snuck off to the ER after practice but refused treatment, as getting it would have meant missing practice very close to Daytona. Monica has gotten dragged for putting so much pressure on the alternate-turned-flyer and Cheer star, Morgan, that she was willing to risk severely damaging vital organs to win Navarro another championship.

Monica Has Gotten Backlash

Some viewers also feel that the many injuries that happen over the course of the show aren’t given the attention they deserve. When Ashlee Sewai was experiencing concussion symptoms after being hit in the head during a stunt, cameras showed her emerging from the bathroom discussing how she had thrown up. However, a visit to the hospital (or even a doctor’s office) wasn’t shown. Several other injuries sustained while filming may not have gotten medical attention either. Monica has been the recipient of backlash over this; however, there is no way for everything that is caught on camera during filming to make it into the final edit. It is very possible that the injured Navarro cheerleaders did receive care which wasn’t shown in the episode.

Is Monica Too Harsh Sometimes?

Monica is portrayed as a mother figure that her athletes want to please, but there have been times when the cameras have captured a much colder side of the coach. The harsh tone she has taken with some of her cheerleaders, as well as some of her offensive words, have also made her the target of scrutiny. In one episode, Monica is overheard telling a squad member to “shut up stay the hell in your own damn lane don’t say another word to anyone.” While different coaches have different approaches and use varying techniques to motivate their teams, this incident seemed inappropriate for any adult who is in charge of leading student-athletes.

America’s favorite cheer coach Monica Aldama has worked very hard to secure her position as the top college coach in the country. She continues to work hard to keep that title, year after year. Some people believe that she may be working too hard and that she’s making her athletes work too hard in the process. It’s certainly up for debate, but if one thing is for certain, it’s that Monica makes fans want more Cheer.

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