Kelsey Ward’s journey from elite skater to one of Missouri’s top coaches is marked by resilience, technical expertise, and a passion for teaching. After a career-ending injury at 16, she shifted to coaching, where her competitive background and positive energy have shaped countless skaters. Her students credit her guidance for their success. From national titles to international medals, and fellow coaches praise her continual learning and supportive style. Ward’s lasting impact comes from inspiring athletes to reach their goals while passing on her love for the sport.
Kelsey Ward’s path from competitive skater to one of Missouri’s most successful coaches is a story of resilience, dedication and passion for the sport.
The success is seen through her own accomplishments as a figure skater with high level competitions, to the accomplishments of her students making it onto Team USA.
Her success stems from her deep competitive background, technical experience, positive and encouraging energy, commitment to continual learning, and her ability to inspire and guide students to achieve their personal and competitive goals.
Ward’s journey in skating began at a young age, and by the time she was 16, she was competing at the highest level, senior level.
“Level wise, I got to a point of being senior level and was at Senior Nationals in Dallas in 2003,” said Ward. “I was on Team USA for a few seasons and traveled internationally as well.”
However, a significant injury at 16 forced her to step away from competitive skating.
“I tore my meniscus and cartilage in my knee, so I had to get surgery,” said Ward. “I went back to high school, and I kind of just needed to get a job.”
It was then that she found her calling as a skating instructor.
“At the time, Saint Peters Rec Plex was looking for learn-to-skate instructors, so I started teaching,” said Ward. “As I continued on, I began doing private lessons, and it just kind of evolved from there.”
Her competitive background and desire to help others became the foundation for her coaching career.
“When I was 12, I moved away and trained at the University of Delaware,” said Ward. “I was under a very high-intensity training atmosphere, and I learned a lot of things I still use today.”
Ward’s teaching style blends technical precision with an understanding of what motivates her students.
“My advice for newer coaches is to be open to learning new things,” said Ward. “You can learn a lot from watching people, asking questions, and getting as much experience and knowledge as you can.”
Fellow coaches and her personal students all attest to Ward’s positive influence in their career and experiences with skating.
“Kelsey has a ton of knowledge about skating and technique, and on top of that, she brings positive and encouraging energy to every lesson,” said Grace Hill, a senior nursing student at Missouri Baptist University. “That combination is crucial to being an excellent coach.”
Hill now coaches under Ward at Wentzville Ice Arena, though in Hill’s younger years, Ward was a coach at the Rec Plex where Hill skated.
“I remember being really young, and Kelsey was my coach for a group class at the Rec Plex,” said Hill. “At the end of the last class, I was the only one who showed up and Kelsey taught me some fun skills that weren’t part of the class, and that’s when I knew I loved skating.”
Ward’s influence on her students extends beyond teaching skating skills. She shapes the way they coach and inspire others as well.
“I think coaching is about giving students the best knowledge and experience,” said Hill. “It’s not about making yourself better. It’s about passing on the sport you love to others.”
Her influence is evident in her students’ achievements.
“A lot of things that I teach, I’m always thinking about what I learned from Kelsey,” said Nathan Roark, a junior biochemistry student at Maryville University. “I would say she’s at least 80% of what I do. I would 100% say she is one of the best coaches in Missouri.”
Fellow coaches who worked with Ward at the Rec Plex appreciate Ward’s diverse experiences in the sport.
“Kelsey has knowledge and perspective from a variety of lenses, including elite competitive, recreational competitive, and more,” said Melissa Felps, a fellow coach who has worked with Ward at the Rec Plex and Wentzville Ice Arena. “She’s constantly seeking out new techniques and always asking for others’ opinions to improve her coaching.”
For Ward, the greatest rewards come from her students’ successes, big and small. Ward said one of her best experiences was watching one of her students, Angelina Huang, won the novice national title at the 2017 US National in Kansas City.
“Then the icing on the cake” was getting to travel with Huang to Oberstdorf, Germany, where she earned a bronze medal at the 2017 Bavarian Open International.
Ward’s commitment to her students is unwavering, even in challenging moments.
“Watching kids pass tests and learn new elements they’ve worked so hard on is incredibly fulfilling,” said Ward. “It’s those little moments that make coaching so rewarding.”
As one of Missouri’s top coaches, Ward continues to inspire and guide the next generation of skaters with patience, enthusiasm and dedication.
“You have to have patience,” said Ward. “If you struggle with that, coaching may be difficult for you, but if you’re enthusiastic about teaching the sport, you’re going in the right direction.”
Ward’s journey from student to coach shows the power of perseverance and passion, leaving a lasting legacy in the skating community.
