Kansas City Appoints Chayla Cheadle to Women’s Basketball Coaching Staff
3/30/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Cheadle follows Coach Whitaker over from her staff at North Alabama
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Mar. 30, 2026) – Kansas City Women's Basketball continues to assemble a well-rounded coaching staff, hiring Chayla Cheadle to join Head Coach Candi Whitaker on the sidelines for the 2026-27 season, as announced today. Cheadle is a Columbia, Mo. native, a former University of Kansas standout and served as a high school girls basketball head coach at Blue Valley Northwest, giving her a strong reputation and wealth of connections throughout the region.
"I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Coach Chayla Cheadle back to an area that means so much to her," Whitaker said. "There is no question she is going to continue to develop and thrive as a young up-and-coming coach because of her ability to connect with people and build strong relationships. Chayla is highly organized and brings fantastic energy to recruiting. She is someone who will instantly connect with our student-athletes and fan base."
As an assistant coach with the Roos, Cheadle will oversee and coordinate all things recruiting, especially on the local level in Kansas City. Cheadle's deep midwest recruiting footprint will be paramount in the Roos' roster building process for next season and beyond.
"I chose to work at Kansas City because this is home to me, and the opportunity to be closer to my family and my roots was something I couldn't pass up," Cheadle said. "Having spent part of my childhood here, Kansas City has played a meaningful role in shaping who I am. Over the years, I've built strong connections within the community and had the chance to coach at the high school level locally, which gave me a deep appreciation for the people and the game in this area. I'm especially excited to follow Coach Whitaker back and be part of building this program into something special.
Prior to joining the Roos' staff, Cheadle worked under Coach Whitaker at North Alabama in their 2025-26 campaign, aiding in the Lions' second-ever winning season at the Division I level, the first since 2019-20.
From 2023-25, Cheadle was the head coach at Blue Valley Northwest, guiding the Huskies to a 26-18 record in those two seasons. During her tenure in Overland Park, Kan., Cheadle led the Huskies to back-to-back sub-state championship appearances and was nominated for 2024 Kansas Class 6A Coach of the Year. Her experience also includes serving as a club coach for the Missouri Phenom 14U and 16U teams from 2023-2025. In 2024, her 16U team reached the Final Four at Nike Nationals.
Cheadle's first coaching role came as the varsity assistant coach for Olathe North High School in 2018-19. The following year, Cheadle returned to her alma mater, assuming the role of junior varsity head coach at Rock Bridge High School. Following that experience, Cheadle returned to Olathe North to coach the Eagles until her departure for Blue Valley Northwest in 2023.
Before joining the coaching ranks, Cheadle enjoyed a playing career at the college and high school levels. Cheadle appeared in 118 games while starting in 90 from 2014-18 for the Jayhawks. Additionally, Cheadle was a three-time Academic All Big 12 selection in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
Cheadle started her basketball journey at Columbia Rock Bridge and was a four year letterwinner in basketball and two in volleyball. Cheadle was two-time team captain for the Bruins, holding All-District honors four-times, MBCA All-State distinction two-times and Defensive Player of the Year prowess three-times.
Cheadle led the Bruins to three consecutive Class 5 Missouri State titles (2012-14) and three district championships while graduating as the school's fourth-leading scorer of all-time. The former McDonald's All-American was ranked No. 97 overall in the 2014-15 national recruiting rankings and the No. 23 ranked guard in the class according to ESPN.
Chayla's mother Cheryl Roseburr-Cheadle was a former hoops standout for the Roos in 1984-88. Roseburr-Cheadle led KC with 81 steals in the 1987-88 season, a mark that ranks tied for seventh most in a single season in program history. Roseburr-Cheadle is also one of just three players in program history to dawn three jersey numbers in her career, wearing No. 22, 24 and 43 in her time as a Roo.
