As the fierce guardian of the DCC for over 35 years, Kelli Finglass maintains a delicate balance between trailblazing and tradition.

Since wearing the star-spangled uniform in the 80s, Kelli is the only DCC in history to receive an invitation to cheer a fifth and final season without going through the audition process.

Blending her field precision skills as a drum major from Lindale, Texas, studying dance at TCU, and earning a BBA in international marketing from the University of North Texas, Kelli was filled with enthusiasm and a fierce drive to lead the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders to their world-class status.

Becoming director at just 27, she quickly distinguished herself as a savvy entrepreneur and successful brand ambassador for the DCC. With bold and creative vision, Kelli focused on projects that promoted performance excellence, visibility, profitability, and community service. Her career accomplishments include the creation of the internationally distributed DCC calendar collection, youth cheer & dance camps, the Junior Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, the live Cowboys Christmas Extravaganza show, elaborately costumed halftime productions, a Mattel licensed DCC Barbie, an NFL licensed DCC Teddy Bear, DCC exercise videos, and a commercial show and appearance program. Finglass secured hundreds of television and stage performances for the DCC, including Saturday Night Live, Oprah, and an epic live performance with the legendary rock band Queen and Dolly Parton.

One of Finglass’ biggest triumphs was positioning the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders’ uniform in the Smithsonian Museum of American History.

Anyone who has watched Kelli’s star rise on the 16 seasons of the hit CMT TV series, “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team”, and the two seasons of Netflix’s leading docuseries, “America’s Sweethearts”, has observed the quick-witted “Kellisms” that created her reputation as a tough, yet caring coach and mentor. Kelli was recently selected as one of Variety magazine’s 30 Most Powerful Women of Reality TV in 2024.

Most meaningful to Kelli’s heart are the annual visits to veterans’ hospitals, senior care centers, and school visits, which provide her and the team the truest opportunity to spread cheer and inspiration.