About.The Illinois High School Cheerleading Coaches Organization (IHSCCO) was founded by coaches, for coaches. The main goal is to provide support for its member coaches by creating educational opportunities, providing resources and promoting growth within the IHSA cheerleading community.
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IHSCCO Board Members
Dave Erlenbaugh
Lemont HS (Medium Varsity) Co-President Dave has been coaching gymnastics and cheer for 30+ years. He is currently the head varsity coach at Lemont HS. Dave’s favorite part of coaching cheer is seeing the definitive impact on the lives of his athletes. His favorite stunt is the switch-up, full around to immediate scale. Coaching is not teaching…coaching is forever learning. |
Amy DiForti
Joliet West HS (Large Varsity) Co-President Amy has been coaching cheerleading for 20 years. 6 of which were at Marist HS and the last 14 at Joliet West HS where she also teaches math. Her favorite part of cheerleading is watching teams put passion and energy into their performance. Amy was recently honored as the 2019 IHSA Coach of the Year! |
Rachael Fischer
Lake Zurich HS (Large Varsity) Secretary Rachael has been coaching cheerleading for 8 years. She is currently the Head Coach at Lake Zurich HS where she is also a Family and Consumer Science Teacher. Before coming to LZ she coached at Hampshire HS for 3 years. Her favorite stunt is the double up immediate. |
Abby Bilinski
McHenry HS (Large Varsity) Social Media Chair Abby has been coaching cheerleading in Illinois for 16 years. She has a background in coaching recreational cheerleading teams and has spent the past four years coaching IHSA teams. She is currently the Head Coach at McHenry Community HS where she also teaches Social Studies. |
William Hansen
Buffalo Grove HS (CoEd) Technology Chair Wil has been coaching cheerleading in Illinois for 7 years. Currently he is an assistant coach at Buffalo Grove HS where he is also a business and technology teacher. His favorite stunt is the low to high full around. |
Shannon Lahey
Downers Grove South HS (CoEd) Education Chair Shannon has been coaching cheerleading for 11 years at Downers Grove South HS where she also teaches Special Education. One of her favorite team traditions is cheering for the D99 Hoops Special Olympics Basketball Team. |
Jenny Krumlinde
Lockport Township HS (CoEd) Co-Education Chair Jenny has been coaching cheerleading for 15 years, the past 9 of which have been at Lockport Township HS. She has a background in coaching all-star and junior high cheerleading as well. When she is not coaching, Jenny is a reporting analyst. Her favorite part of coaching is the bonds created with the athletes and teaching them lessons they will use in their lives forever. Her favorite stunt is the full up switch up. |
Laura Meehan
Barrington HS (CoEd) Treasurer Laura has been the head coach at Barrington High School for 16 years. She is an instructional coach at Hough and Grove Elementary Schools in Barrington. She loves coaching cheerleading because she has the opportunity to teach her athletes skills that transcend cheerleading. |
Tim Babin
Antioch HS (Medium Varsity) Co-Treasurer Tim has been coaching cheerleading for 21 years at the all star, college, and high school level. He is currently the co-head coach at Antioch Community HS with his wife, Amber. Before coaching at ACHS, he was the head coach at Mundelein High School for 8 years. He currently manages a global portfolio of clinical research in the biopharmaceutical industry. His favorite part of coaching is seeing the development of student athletes skills on the mat, but more importantly playing a vital role in their development as young adults. |
Jeff Siegal
Buffalo Grove HS (CoEd) Social Chair Jeff is currently the Head Cheerleading Coach at Buffalo Grove High School where he has also been a member of the Special Ed. Department for the past 26 years. He was also the Head Coach at Elk Grove High School and at Northwestern University. Jeff is an IHSA Official and serves on the IHSA Cheerleading Advisory Board. In 2018 Jeff was named NFHS Cheerleading Coach of the Year. |
Stephanie Braheny
Rolling Meadows HS (Large Varsity) Mentor Advisor Stephanie has coached cheerleading at the recreational level for four years and high school level for four years. Currently she is the head coach at Rolling Meadows HS. When she is not coaching, she works as a speech and language pathologist for children with disabilities. Her favorite thing about coaching is watching her athletes succeed at skills they have been working hard on. |
Kathy Tichebolt
Neuqua Valley HS (Large Varsity) Co-Mentor Advisor Kathy has been coaching cheerleading at Neuqua Valley High School for the past 13 years where she is also a Family and Consumer Science teacher. Her favorite part of coaching is the lifetime relationships she forms with the different athletes she coaches. |
Katie Clemons
Officials Liaison Katie has been an IHSA official for 11 years, and has officiated state for the past 9 years. She is the head coach at the University of St. Francis, and worked for UCA as an instructor and judge since 2008. She is a physical education teacher, and enjoys spending time with her family in her spare time. |
Jeannine Bejlovec
Wilmington HS (Small Varsity) Voting Board Member Jeannine has been coaching cheerleading for 20+ years. She is entering her 18th year at Wilmington High School. She is also a 6th grade social studies teacher at Wilmington Middle School. Her favorite part of coaching is seeing the pure joy and sense of accomplishment from athletes when they achieve new skills. |
Tammy Rentschler
Belvidere North HS (CoEd) Voting Board Member Tammy began her coaching career at Belvidere HS where she coached for 6 years before the schools split. Currently she is in her 15th year coaching at Belvidere North HS. Her “real” job title is a Medical Illustrator, but her passion job is a coach. She is a proud Purdue alumni cheerleader, and her favorite part of coaching is the CoEd element of cheer . Adding the guys makes her both insane but balanced! BOILER UP! |
Pia Krieger
Paris HS (Small Varsity) Voting Board Member Pia is entering her 7th year coaching in Illinois and her 5th year with Paris High School. Her favorite thing about coaching is the ability to shape young athletes on and off the mat. |
Linda Drust
Carterville HS (Small Varsity) Voting Board Member Linda Drust is in her 8th year as Head Coach at Carterville High School. Over a span of more than 15 years, she was a volunteer and assistant coach at CHS and the head coach at Carterville Jr. High School. Linda is a retired educator, having contributed to the field of education as a teacher, media specialist, and administrator from 1984 - 2016. Linda's favorite part about coaching is the opportunity to coach with her daughter and encouraging athletes to develop skills that promote responsibility and goal setting. |
Kacie Jones
Oakwood HS (Small Varsity) Voting Board Member Kacie is in her 10th year of coaching at her alma mater, Oakwood High School. Her favorite part of coaching is developing relationships that last long after graduation, and she loves moments when things "click" for an athlethe for the first time. |