Charlie Kirk's mentor, Jeff Webb, has died at the age of 76 following a pickleball accident. Jeff played a pivotal role in cheerleading, founding Varsity Spirit in 1974, and turning the sport into a global industry.
Cheer Daily reported that Jeff died after he sustained a severe head injury following a fall while playing pickleball two weeks before his death on March 20, 2026. Varsity Spirit President Bill Seely revealed that Jeff had been placed on life support, and his family decided to turn off the machines.
© Getty ImagesPickleball is played indoors and outdoors, and is played with two or four players who use a paddle to hit a plastic ball over a net, until one side is unable to return the ball or commits an error.
It was created in the 1960s but has grown in the last five years; a 2023 report by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association revealed the sport grew by 223.5% between 2019 and 2022 and a 2024 report claimed the number of outdoor pickleball courts in major cities rose by 650% in seven years.
"Join us in honoring the life and legacy of Jeff Webb, founder of Varsity Spirit and modern cheerleading. His impact has built a community that will continue to inspire generations to come," Varsity Spirit shared on their social media pages.
© AFP via Getty Images"Jeff played a pivotal role in shaping cheerleading as it exists today and in building a community that has impacted generations of athletes, coaches, and teams," a Varsity Spirit spokesperson said.
"In recent years, his contributions helped grow the sport both in the United States and globally, including his work with the International Cheer Union, which achieved full recognition by the International Olympic Committee in 2021. We extend our condolences to Jeff’s family and loved ones, and to the many across the spirit community who were influenced by his work."
© Getty ImagesA former University of Oklahoma yell leader, Jeff's approach to cheerleading introduced elements that are now considered core to the sport, including partner stunts, pyramids, tumbling, and the use of music. He also shaped the growth of the sport, encouraging training camps, and bringing cheerleading and the athletes involved into the mainstream.
Jeff was also known as an early mentor to Charlie Kirk, the right-wing activist who was shot and killed during a Utah college speaking engagement in September 2025.
Turning Point USA, Charlie's nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics on school campuses, paid tribute to Jeff, calling him "a dear friend to Turning Point USA and Charlie," and sharing that he was "a visionary who helped shape generations of young leaders and believed deeply in the power of community and country".
Following Charlie's death in September, Jeff told Real America’s Voice: "I think we probably lost a future president last week."
"Charlie Kirk had it all — charisma, faith, respect for everyone... Now, in his absence, tens of thousands of new chapters are rising. His legacy is just beginning."
Jeff is survived by his wife, Gina, and two children, Jeffrey and Caroline, and two grandchildren.
