Coaches & Trainers

Kaitlin serves as Assistant Girl's Varsity Basketball Coach at Montini Catholic High School.  Kaitlin has been coaching young athletes for the last couple of years after completing 4 years of college basketball.  She attended the University of St. Francis in Joliet between 2016-2020.  While there, she was a two-time NAIA All-American, along with being the CCAC Player of the Year.  Kaitlin is extremely passionate about the game of basketball, and uses her past experience and love for the game to provide the basic fundamentals and understanding of the game of basketball to the younger generation of athletes.

Judson has over thirty years of youth coaching experience spanning boys and girls sports at multiple levels. Over the years he has coached basketball at Central Middle School (Columbus, Indiana), University of Chicago Lab School, Haven Middle School (Evanston), and FAAM (Evanston). Most recently he helped build the ETHS Girls Feeder program, coaching seventh and eighth grade teams. He enjoys sharing his passion for the game by helping every player become the best they can be — as an individual and as a teammate. Nothing brings him more joy than seeing a group of players mature into a winning team. Beyond basketball, he is the father of three and is a Partner at Harris Associates here in Chicago.

While earning his degree in Business Administration at DePaul, Adam was invited to work with the DePaul women's basketball team’s coaching staff as a scout player and was exposed to the elite structure and organization of a Top-25 program for three years. After college, he worked as an athletic coordinator for We Got Game, organizing and running basketball camps, leagues, and training sessions for players of all ages. He’s coached middle school basketball at Hardey Prep and Mount Carmel Academy, and for the past two years has worked with The Latin School serving as the junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant. Adam’s basketball philosophy balances the structure of skill building, while also incorporating techniques aimed at improving a player’s instinctual on-court awareness. Adam and a childhood friend operate Primal Dog, a dog training and walking business serving the North Center neighborhood of Chicago since 2014.

Alex grew up in the Chicagoland area and will be graduating in May from Benedictine University in Lisle, IL with a degree in Sports and Exercise Science. Alex played basketball all four years at Benedictine. She was Rookie of Year in the Midwest Region her freshman year, two-time First Team All-Conference, two-time named Player of the Year and Team Captain.  She is excited to start her coaching career as soon as possible. Alex has been involved with basketball since her early adolescent years and has even worked many summer basketball camps, basketball tournaments, and college elite camps. She is super excited to take what she has learned from her playing career to help young athletes gain confidence within themselves, enhance their fundamental skills and share her love of basketball.

Kate serves as the Middle School Varsity Girls Basketball Coach at the Latin School of Chicago. Kate is a former collegiate basketball player from Hanover College. During her tenure, she assisted her team in winning two HCAC Conference Championships, serving as team captain, and earning the MVP award her senior year. Kate continued her career through playing stints in both England and Switzerland, and then officially switching to solely coaching in 2021. 

As a new resident of Chicago, Kate is eager to immerse herself in the development of youth girls' basketball through encouraging healthy competition and nurturing the passion for basketball.

Kess moved to Chicago after graduating from Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa in May, 2019.  At Grinnell, Kess played basketball serving as captain her senior year plus ran track & field.  Kess grew up in Phoenix, AZ where she developed a love of the game beginning as a 1^stgrader. She has coached youth athletes via several clinics throughout her college and high school years and is excited to bring her energy and passion for the game to the FXW and Flow with an emphasis on player growth and increasing game IQ.  When she is not of the court, Kess works as a merchandising coordinator for McMaster Carr and spends her free time exploring the restaurants in her new city.  

David grew up in Portland, OR where basketball was a significant influence on his values and leadership.  He graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, IL and added a master’s degree from Northwestern in Evanston in 2020. While at Northwestern, David joined the women’s basketball staff as a Graduate Assistant. During his time with the team, Northwestern went on to win a share of the Big Ten regular season title and reached as high as #11 in the AP poll. Since graduating from Northwestern, David was the assistant coach for the Women’s Basketball program at Division II Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia, where he worked in all facets of the program, including assisting with on court player development, film and scouting breakdowns, designing practices, and implementing offensive and defensive strategies for the team. David believes that when we empower and encourage our players to be critical thinkers at a young age, they develop a positive growth mindset which leads to greater successful over time.

Sean grew up in central Indiana where his love for the game of basketball became apparent from an early age. After graduating from Fishers High School in 2013, he accepted a preferred walk-on spot at the University of Michigan and eventually was awarded a scholarship as a Junior. While there, he was a member of 2 Big Ten Championship teams, 3x Academic All-Big Ten, 4x U-M Academic Achievement, 2x U-M's Morgan/Bodnar Award for Academic Achievement, and 2x U-M's Travis Conlan Sportsmanship Award winner. Sean brings a mix of both immense knowledge of the game, as well as incredibly high energy and great communication skills. He has worked numerous camps from youth to the collegiate level. At his core, Sean loves teaching the game, both the fundamentals and advanced concepts. When Sean is not in the gym, he works as Project Manager for a data science consulting firm here in Chicago.

Hope played four years of basketball at Lyons Township High School. During her college years, she served as the head manager of the Women's Division I College of Charleston basketball team. While traveling the east coast in the Colonial Athletic Association she helped with all travel logistics, facilitated practice plans, as well as on and off court in game duties. Hope double majored in Business Administration and Hospitality & Tourism Management while at the College of Charleston. She has been around basketball her whole life. Hope has been coaching youth basketball for 6+ years, assisting with Lyons Township summer camps. She has a strong passion for basketball and girls & women in sport as a whole and especially loves working and developing the future of basketball. 

Allie is excited to bring her energy and love for connecting with young people to Chicago Sky Basketball Academy! Born and raised in Green Bay Wisconsin, Allie participated in numerous sports growing up and played competitive travel basketball and volleyball until college. She attended the University of Wisconsin Madison for her undergraduate degree (Spanish/Teaching English as a Second Language/Education & Education Services). During her time at Madison, she worked at a bilingual elementary school in their afterschool program, facilitating activities and assisting in academics. Allie received her first Master's in Education Policy and Leadership from American University and started as a teacher at Muchin College Prep in the loop in May of 2020. Working towards completing her second Master's in Teaching Special Education at the end of May, Allie is geared up to bring her experience teaching all subjects to students from various backgrounds to the basketball court with her players. Allie's father was a high school basketball coach for over 20 years before retiring to referee the game in Green Bay. With coaching in her blood and an unmatched enthusiasm, Coach Allie is ready to help Sky Academy players grow as leaders in and out of the game, provide them with the tools to make good decisions on and off the court, and develop innovative, crafty basketball arsenals with the rest of our amazing Sky Basketball Academy coaches. 

Damo grew up in Chicago where he played basketball and graduated from Dunbar Vocational Career Academy High School 2010. Damo played college basketball at Montana State Northern in Havre, MT where he transitioned to Student Assistant Coach for his final year graduating in 2017 with a degree in Community Leadership. Damo has over seven years coaching and teaching sports at the youth level. He worked six summers for the Chicago Park District working into a supervisory position and taught basketball at the Boys and Girls’ Club in Havre, Montana.

Max has been coaching girls at the Latin School of Chicago for the last eleven years to great success.  In his role as Head Coach for the Latin School Girls Varsity, he has amassed an overall record of 191 wins and 60 losses, won ten Independent School League Championships, six Regional titles, named Independent School League Coach of the Year six times and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year for District 1 three times.  In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Max serves as the Middle School Dean for 5th & 6th grades and teaches social studies. Prior to joining Latin, Max was the Coordinator of Basketball Operations for 3 years at Western Michigan University working with Head Coach Steven Hawkins to advance that program. As a student at the University of Illinois, Max worked as a student manager to the basketball team while earning his B.A. and M.Ed. Even as a teacher and coach, Max is a tremendous student of the game and has dedicated his career to working at the Middle and High School levels both in the classroom and on the court.

Simona grew up playing travel and school basketball in the south suburbs since 5th grade. She was a 4-year varsity player and team captain at Tinley Park High School. She then continued her basketball career at Trinity Christian College. She has a passion for the game and currently plays in an advanced women's league in Chicago. She has coached travel basketball for years at the grade school level and was also a Varsity Assistant Coach at Providence Catholic High School. Her greatest childhood memories revolve around basketball, and she enjoys being able to share that experience with the girls of the Chicago Sky Academy. As a woman in sports, Simona understands the importance of female representation and having good role models. Growing up, she had very few female coaches and is actively working to break that trend for younger generations. Simona has a heavy focus on basic skills, particularly shooting. Beyond that, her primary objective is to mentor her players to be great reliable teammates and to maintain a positive attitude throughout the hardships they may encounter, both in basketball and life.

Shannon has played and coached basketball for more than thirty years. Growing up in Downers Grove, Shannon playing several years of AAU basketball for the Illinois Hustle and excelled as a 3-sport athlete at Montini Catholic High School in Lombard, IL. She earned a record 12 varsity letters in basketball, softball, and volleyball, and was awarded All-Area and All-Conference honors in Basketball. Shannon graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, CT where she enjoyed a successful basketball playing career. While at Trinity Shannon mentored and coached underprivileged girls at the Boys and Girls Club in Hartford, CT.  With her extensive knowledge and passion for coaching and teaching young athletes, Shannon has coached multiple girls basketball programs over the past decade including the Glen Ellyn Titans, St. Petronille School and Glenbard West.  She is currently the Head Girls Varsity Basketball Coach at Montini. Shannon is a student of the game, has a deep understanding of the fundamentals, and prides herself on building confidence and leadership skills that empower athletes on and off the court.  Shannon, her husband, and their four children reside in Glen Ellyn.

Kurt is currently the sophmore girls basketball coach at St. Igantius High School. Kurt, a high school math teacher at Argo High School, has been coaching basketball at multiple levels the past 20+ years. He coached boys basketball for 10 years at Argo, including three years as head varsity boys coach where he led the team to their last conference championship. After coaching at the high school level, Kurt devoted his time coaching youth basketball at Frances Xavier Warde where he has coached multiple teams every year for the last few years. Kurt is passionate about teaching the fundamentals of the game and building success and confidence through teamwork and hard work.

Phil just completed his first season as Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI, his 11^th year coaching overall. Prior to Carthage, he was an Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, IA, as well as an Assistant Varsity Girl’s Basketball Coach at North High School in Oshkosh, WI. From 2004-2008, Phil served as a Men’s Basketball Student Manager at Drake University, studying under AP Coach of the Year recipients Dr. Tom Davis and Keno Davis. He earned his Master of Education from Loyola University Chicago in 2011. Phil loves giving regular feedback to players that focuses on specific improvement areas, utilizing film and advanced data to track their progress.