About
Director of Spirit Programs, Stephanie Brant enters her first season with the Panthers Cheer & Dance teams. Coach Brant founded the Fontbonne University Golden Line Dance team in 2019 & the Lindenwood University-Belleville Lynx Dance Team in 2013. With the Griffins, Brant led the dance team to a 2nd place national finish at the Dance Team Union College Classic in both 2021 (Team Performance) and 2022 (Hip-hop). The teams also earned national recognition in co-ed cheer, mascot, and jazz. Brant served as Head Dance Coach, Director of Spirit Programs, and Assistant Cheer Coach at Lindenwood University-Belleville for eight seasons. During her time with the Lynx, Brant led them to national placements in the NAIA, NCA/NDA, and DTU Collegiate Nationals. The highest accomplishment was a 6th place national finish at NDA Nationals as well as earning two Regional NAIA Dance Championship titles while placing in the top 12 at NAIA Nationals three of those seasons. Lynx Cheer's highest accomplishment was a 4th place finish at NAIA Nationals. Coach Brant was also nominated for Coach of the Year at the 2018 Lindenwood Athletic Awards ceremony.
Coach Brant has studio training in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pom, Hip-hop, Pointe, Modern, Kick, & Lyrical dance. Brant was a member of Collinsville Kahok Dance Team for 4 years in high school where her team won the state championship title in AAA Kick. Brant graduated cum laude from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville where she minored in Dance and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. At SIUE, Brant was a member of the University Dance Organization, having performed in various Modern Dance concerts and attended the American College Dance Festival. She was the Junior Varsity Coach at Metro East Lutheran High School for two years and Assistant Varsity Coach for two years as well. Brant was a 2014 Rams Cheerleading Finalist and performed her talent of Ballet en Pointe on the Miss Illinois stage from 2011-2013. Coach Brant has taught a variety of studio dance classes at Angie’s School of Dance, Heavenly Rhythm Dance Studio, and the YMCA.
Brant earned her Master of Arts in School Counseling from Lindenwood University in 2013. She has also served as a Graduate Assistant, Admissions Counselor, Athletic Events Promotions Coordinator, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes club sponsor. Brant is a member of the National Dance Coaches Association, serving as the new member onboarding coordinator. Brant has served as an executive director of the Miss Metro East and Miss Capital City/Land of Lincoln Scholarship pageants and has judged several local pageants in the Miss America Organization and Miss Illinois County Fair systems.
Affiliations
National Dance Coaches Association- serves as New Member Onboarding Coorindator
