Kelli Talley Santos
Kelli Talley Santos is the owner and founder of Diamond Athletics, a coach, choreographer, educator, and program director with a lifetime of experience across cheer, dance, athletics, performance, media, and leadership. Her career spans youth, collegiate, professional, and international performances, with a passion for excellence, athlete development, faith, and community impact.
Kelli brings over 22 years of experience in coaching dance, cheerleading, and tumbling, with a proven track record of leading numerous award-winning teams. Her extensive background includes coaching and choreographing at collegiate and professional levels, with a strong focus on building athletes' skills, showmanship, and technique to prepare them for success at the next level.
Kelli’s credentials are impressive: she holds a Master of Arts in Performance Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Communications from Dallas Baptist University, where she received the Christian Leadership scholarship. She has also been the All-Girl cheerleading coach at Baylor University and was part of the Baylor Spirit Squads coaching staff for four years.
Her professional dance experience includes being a Dallas Cowboys Rhythm & Blue Dancer, the only hip-hop team in the NFL, and a former TX Rangers Six Shooter, where she was also the choreographer. Kelli appeared as a cheerleader in NBC’s Friday Night Lights TV series and has performed with major artists like Creed, Jessica Simpson, and Reba McEntire. Her dance credentials extend to over 33 years of training in jazz, hip hop, ballet, tap, modern, and lyrical, and she grew up training at her mother’s studio, CTAPA Dance Theatre.
Kelli’s achievements also include being a member and choreographer for the USA Flight Crew and receiving college scholarships in dance and cheerleading. She cheered at DBU, where she earned MVP and the Timothy Leadership Awards, and was a 5X UCA All-Star Cheerleader. Her extensive performance experience includes appearances at major events such as the Cotton Bowl Classic and New Year's Day Parade in London, as well as on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
Kelli recently participated as a pro in Dancing with the Waco Stars, a fundraiser for the Family Abuse Center. As an AACCA Certified coach, Kelli is dedicated to investing in her students' lives, leveraging her vast experience to provide them with opportunities similar to those she has enjoyed throughout her career.