Nikki Kimura joined the Nebraska Athletic Department in June of 2018 and was the Nebraska's spirit squad assistant coach from 2018 until March 2024. In her role, she assisted the cheer squad, scarlets dance team and the mascot program. She also oversaw their performances at more than 200 events each year.
The mission of the Nebraska Spirit Squad is to unify students, alumni and fans in support of the University of Nebraska and its athletes. The talented and dedicated members of Nebraska's spirit program motivate and entertain the crowd, promote school spirit and represent the university at campus and community events. They perform at athletic events and serve as ambassadors for the Athletic Department and the University of Nebraska by attending numerous community and philanthropic events each year.
A Omaha native, Kimura was previously the head cheer and dance coach at Hastings College in Hastings, Neb. While at Hastings she had back-to-back GPAC (Great Plains Athletic Conference) Conference titles with Hastings College Cheer, led the NAIA in academic All-Americans and received both the 2018 GPAC Cheer Coach of the Year and 2018 GPAC Dance Coach of the Year awards, voted on by her peers. In her time at Hastings College, the Broncos made multiple appearances at NAIA regional and national competitions with both the cheer and dance teams. Kimura was also the Competitive Cheer and Dance GPAC Conference Chair.
Kimura earned her bachelor's degree in advertising from Northwest Missouri State University in 2007.