Varsity Spirit founder Jeff Webb, architect of modern cheerleading, dies at 76

Varsity Spirit founder Jeff Webb, who has been hailed as the architect of modern cheerleading competition, died unexpectedly Thursday at the age of 76.

Webb created Varsity Spirit in 1974, building it into a multibillion dollar franchise that would catapult cheerleading competitions to the heights of ESPN and Disney World while forging a massive community of parents and students.

Webb previously owned Human Events and The Post Millennial. He sold both outlets last fall to Just The News' parent company, Just The Network.

John Solomon, the founder and CEO of Just the News, said Thursday night that Webb was working with the company to help build a new events business it was working on a new weekly television show.

“Jeff was a brilliant businessman and entrepreneur and a joyful warrior who made everyone around him better,” Solomon said. “He had a passion for ensuring America’s next generations could carry on the torch of liberty, whether through the creation of the Varsity franchise or through his friendship with Charlie Kirk. He will be sorely missed."

Varsity confirmed Webb's death in a statement on Instagram, stating his impact "built a community that will continue to inspire generations to come."

"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," a Varsity Spirit spokesperson said in a statement. "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."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.