K.J. Kindler
K.J. Kindler (born June 26, 1970) is an American college gymnastics coach and the current head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners women's gymnastics team, a role she has held since 2006.[1]
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Oklahoma |
| Conference | Big 12 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | June 26, 1970 Lake Elmo, Minnesota |
| Alma mater | Iowa State (1988-92) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2001–2006 | Iowa State |
| 2006–present | Oklahoma |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| National Head Coach of the Year (2005, 2010) | |
Coaching career
1992–2006: Iowa State
Following her graduation from Iowa State University in 1992, Kindler became the Iowa State Cyclones assistant coach. She was an assistant coach for nine years until 2001 when she became head coach. She was the head coach of the Cyclones team until 2006, when she was offered the position at University of Oklahoma.
2006-present: Oklahoma
She has been the Oklahoma Sooners' Head Coach since 2006 and has transformed the program into one of the nation's elite with the program being ranked either first or second every year in the Pre-Season Poll.
Personal life
Kindler is married to Lou Ball, the assistant coach of the Oklahoma Sooners gymnastics program.[2] The couple have two daughters, Maggie and Adelade.
Kindler grew up in Minnesota but moved to Connecticut during high school. She graduated from Wilton High School in 1992 and was a former gymnast at Arena Gymnastics in Stamford.
Competitive gymnastics career
Kindler was a competitive gymnast during her school years and earned a full ride scholarship to Iowa State University and the Iowa State Cyclones women's gymnastics team..