Our Coaches

Kati P. Churchill

Head Coach

Kati is a synchronized skating enthusiast and this will be her 27th season in the sport. This upcoming year will be her 11th season coaching IllinoiSkating and 13th season of coaching synchronized skating. She is a professional member of the USFSA and is a USFS Accredited Level 2 Coach in Synchronized Skating.

Kati has synchro skating and coaching experience at levels ranging from Aspire 2 to Senior. She has a long history with IllinoiSkating, starting with the team as a freshman in 2007. She has held executive board roles including, Treasurer and President during her undergraduate career and skated for the Collegiate and Senior teams from 2007-2011. In 2012, Kati helped form the first ever IllinoiSkating Alumni team and in 2013 returned to coach the Collegiate and Alumni teams alongside Audrey Kamm and Carah Ferrill. Prior to joining IllinoiSkating, Kati competed at the Intermediate and Junior divisions at the national level with the Starlights. In addition to coaching IllinoiSkating, she also coached the local Aspire teams for the Ice Cubes and offers private lessons for skating skills, ice dance, and solo and group program choreography.

Kati graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelors of Science. She also holds a Masters of Science from Purdue University and a MBA from Indiana University’s Kelly School of Business.

Email: kati.churchill@gmail.com

Valerie Burkhart

Assistant Coach

This is Valerie’s second season on the IllinoiSkating coaching staff. She is a professional member of the USFSA and PSA and is working towards her certified synchro instructor rating. Valerie has been a group and private coach for 20 years and is excited to be coming home to her IllinoiSkating family.

Valerie knew she wanted to skate for the University of Illinois from her first visit to campus and Prospective Skaters’ Day, when the team was known as Illini Edge. Valerie skated for IllinoiSkating for 4 seasons; beginning with her freshman year at the University of Illinois in 2005. She was webmaster and team captain during her time with the team. After graduating, she served as team manager for one season. Prior to skating for the University of Illinois, Valerie skated at Inwood Ice Arena in Joliet, IL. She competed in singles and ice dance in ISI; including several ISI World Championships. She also skated on the in-house synchro team.


Valerie graduated from the University of Illinois in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Sports Facility Management.

Email: vrburkhart@gmail.com