K.J. Kindler
| Sport(s) | Artistic gymnastics |
|---|---|
| Current position | |
| Title | Head Coach |
| Team | Oklahoma Sooners |
| Conference | Big 12 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
June 26, 1970 (age 44) Lake Elmo, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Iowa State (1988-92) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2001-06 | Iowa State Cyclones |
| 2006–present | Oklahoma Sooners |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| National Head Coach of the Year (2005, 2010) | |
K.J. Kindler (born June 26, 1970 in Lake Elmo, Minnesota) 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]
Coaching career
1992-06: Iowa State Cyclones
Following her graduation from Iowa State University in 1992, Kindler became the Iowa State Cyclones Assistant Coach. She was an Assistant Coach for 9 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 Sooners
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.
K.J. 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 Academy 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, where she would later become the head coach.