Meet the Coaches

Candace Fahr, Head Coach    With over 20 years of coaching experience and currently in her 9th year as Head Coach at Hartland High School, Coach Candace brings deep passion and leadership to the program. She has served on the CCCAM Board for 7 years, currently holding roles as Vice President, Region 2 Representative, and Scholarship Invitational Director.

Her teams have earned numerous honors, including KLAA Division and Conference Championships, District and Regional titles, and State qualifications, along with Academic All-State recognition.

Coach Candace has been recognized as:

• District Coach of the Year (2016, 2019)

• Regional Coach of the Year (2022, 2025)

• Division 1 State Coach of the Year (2022, 2023)

• CCCAM Coach of the Year (2023)

• MHSCA Coach of the Year (2023)
  
  

Outside of coaching, she works as a Sales Representative for Varsity Spirit Fashions and enjoys family time with her husband, Chris, and their son, Kane.

Coach Christina Swansey, Assistant Varsity Coach

With over 30 years of cheer coaching experience, Coach Christina Swansey brings unmatched dedication and expertise to Hartland High School, where she now coaches alongside a close friend and former athlete. Her coaching journey began at just 14 years old with a local youth program, igniting a lifelong passion for the sport.

She has led teams to multiple titles, including League, District, and Regional Championships, State Finalist placements, and a State Championship in 2002.

Coaching Honors:

• District Coach of the Year: 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022

• Regional Coach of the Year: 2017, 2019, 2021

• CCCAM Coach of the Year: 2019

• MHSCA Cheer Coach of the Year: 2019

• NFHS Spirit Coach of the Year: 2019

Now in her 11th year on the CCCAM Executive Board, she has served as Secretary, Membership Director, and currently as Region 2 Representative.

Coach Christina lives in Grand Blanc with her husband and two children. She proudly celebrated 2025 as a memorable year to be a Hartland Eagle!

Coach Rachel Smith – JV Coach

Now in her third year as JV Co-Coach, Rachel Smith brings energy and experience to the Hartland Cheer program. Born and raised in Brighton, she was a four-year varsity athlete in both Cheer and Girls Golf, helping lead her cheer team to a State Finals Runner-Up finish.

She holds a degree in Exercise Physiology and Communications from Western Michigan University. Her professional background includes roles in personal training, medical device sales, and account management at Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Coach Smith has coached in several local youth programs, including three years with HAYAA. She’s been married to her husband Jeff for 17 years and has two children in Hartland Schools—Preston (12, Ore Creek) and Harper (8, Lakes Elementary).

In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, traveling, hiking, and downhill skiing.

Coach Cassie Campbell – JV Coach

Coach Cassie Campbell began her coaching journey at age 19 at Waterford Mott High School after graduating from Lakeland High School and earning degrees from OCC and Eastern Michigan University.

She spent seven years at Infinity Athletics coaching All-Star teams to multiple national titles and qualifying twice for The Cheerleading Worlds. Her dedication was recognized with the MCCA 5-Year Dedication Award.

Now in her 8th year at Hartland High School, Coach Campbell plays an integral role in the program and also serves as the Director of Coaching for HAYAA, coaching the JV, middle school, and Elite teams.