Jeff Webb, Founder of Varsity Spirit and Architect of Modern Cheerleading, Dies After Accident.

Exam-focused facts from the 23 March 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Jeff Webb (19 January 1950 – 19 March 2026) passed away at age 76 following a fall while playing pickleball two weeks earlier that caused a severe head injury.
Webb founded the Universal Cheerleaders Association in 1974 and later built Varsity Spirit into the largest organisation in cheerleading.
As president of the International Cheer Union he led efforts that achieved full recognition of cheerleading by the International Olympic Committee in 2021.
Charlesbank Capital Partners acquired a majority stake in Varsity Brands in 2014 for roughly $1.5 billion, Bain Capital purchased it in 2018 for about $2.5 billion, and KKR acquired a majority stake in 2024 in a deal valued at about $4.75 billion.