INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI Athletics Department has named Alex Martin Csiernik as head cheerleading coach, replacing Ashley Burelison at the helm of the program. Csiernik has served as an assistant on Burelison's staff since November 2019. 

Csiernik brings an extensive background to the program, including spending four years on the Indiana University Crimson All-Girl squad which won UCA College National Championship titles in 2012 and 2013. She then went on to coach the team to national titles in 2014 and 2016. At the high school level, she began her coaching career at LaGrange (Ga.) High School and then coached at nearby Hamilton Southeastern, beginning in 2018. She helped HSE to an Indiana Varsity A State Championship in 2019, serving as head coach and choreographer for the Royals. 

At IUPUI, she helped the Jaguars to the 2020 UCA College Nationals DI All Girl Finals and the program's first-ever UCA College Game Day Competition that same year. 

Csiernik was on staff for Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) and traveled the Midwest region instructing cheerleading camps for several years.

She founded the cheerleading program, Radiance All Stars at Jaycie Phelps Athletic Center (JPAC). She led her team to a Worlds Bronze Medal in the International Open 7 division in 2021. Her International Open 7 team earned Worlds Bids in both 2021 and 2022 and her mini team also won the 2022 UCA All Star International Championship.

Her choreography accolades include helping New Palestine Junior High to a state runner-up finish in 2021 and HSE's 2019 state title, as well as IUPUI's DI All Girl finalist routine in 2020. 

Csiernik spent eight years as a high school and middle school English teacher before moving to coaching and directing full time in 2021 at JPAC.