Sooner Gymnastics Coach Helps Gymnasts Flip To New Heights

The  University of Oklahoma women’s gymnastics program is transforming.  With the Sooners placing second in the NCAA Championships, which is best finishing mark by a Big 12 team.  The OU gymnasts are setting new school records, what has changed?

The foundation of the team, the direction of a coach and the confidence that comes with winning.

Coach K.J. Kindler , was named 2010 National Coach of the Year. She received this very  title while coaching at Iowa State in 2005.  Setting records and receiving awards is nothing new for Kindler, she is the only gymnastic coach in the history of NCAA to lead two different programs to the Super Six Team Finals. She also received the accolades for being a great coach when she received the title National Coach of the year in 2005.  So although it was the Sooner’s first appearance  in the Super Six, Kindler’s prior  appearance was in 2006 as she led Iowa State to their first Super Six.

Oklahoma was the only NCAA team to go undefeated in its regular season this year.  With 22 victories the developing  squad secured a path to postseason titles and success. Although the Sooners took the backseat to six time title winner, UCLA, the Bruins scarcely secured the victory. It was simple, the Bruins had 11 scores of 9.9 and higher winning with 197.725 over Oklahoma’s score of 197.25.

Kindler’s commands have left  the Sooners with  a 33-5 record, the 33 total victories, which trumps the school’s  previous record of 26 wins, which was set under Coach Becky Switzer in 1989. Some consider the program’s record not being beat in over 20 years the sign of a stagnant program. Many would say it’s a program that needs to adapt to keep up with the rest of the competition.  Although I would never say I consider the program stagnant, it most definitely hasn’t made the leaps and bounds of marked progress other OU athletic programs have.  This year the squad proved they could and that they will.

On February 8, 2010 the OU gymnasts captured a first place national ranking for the first time in the program’s history. Oklahoma was also ranked first or second in every regular season poll and never scored below  196.00 in a meet, and were the only squad in the nation to do so.

Kindler’s depth of experience as a gymnast and as a coach, has brought Oklahoma’s program a whole new spirit.  As a head coach, every squad under her direction has at least advanced to compete in regionals. She was the Cyclone’s head coach for six years before she took the reins of Oklahoma’s  program in 2006. 

This fascinating woman must eat, sleep and drink gymnastics. She is married to assistant gymnastic coach Lou Hall. Her love for this sport is apparent, never failing to rise in her endeavors.  She attended Iowa State where she was three time team MVP, qualified for three NCAA regionals and was the first individual in the history of the program to qualify for regionals!

In her fourth-year at Oklahoma, there is no question that she is a perfect fit for the program. The Sooners success backs it up.