K.J. Kindler resigns at ISU

[Jeremy]

K.J. Kindler resigns at ISU

I have confirmed that K.J. Kindler has resigned as the Women's Gymnastics coach at Iowa State to take the head coaching position at Oklahoma.

K.J. was a three time Big 12 coach of the year and was national coach of the year in 2005. After completing seven seasons at Iowa State, Kindler will resign effective this summer due to some disagreements in budgeting allocations.

SPECULATION: It is my understanding that there were requests made by Kindler regarding budgetary allocations and resources that were not able to be met at the present time. From what I have been told, the requests were for a higher budget as well as some facility improvements that could not be justified in relation to the revenue of the sport.

[JokersWild]

That's unfortunate, she really took that program to another level. Ah well, at least it's not a high profile sport, so most people won't even notice. Although, it was nice to chalk that win up a couple times in the Cy-Hawk series.

[chuckd4735]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JokersWild @ Jun 8 2006, 02:07 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> That's unfortunate, she really took that program to another level. Ah well, at least it's not a high profile sport, so most people won't even notice. Although, it was nice to chalk that win up a couple times in the Cy-Hawk series.
[/b][/quote]



I work with some people who have their younger children in a gymnastics program run by KJ and some of the gymnists, and they are just devistated by this, and their children are taking it very hard. KJ was a very good coach and did alot for the community, and was very very good looking. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img] I guess she has a baby on the way as well and has to start looking at whats best for her family. Its just too bad we had to loose her to a school we compete with year after year.

[pulse]

This is huge. She is probably the best coach of any sport at Iowa State. She's also a very nice person.

[dbronco7sc]

She's basically running the Gymnastics portion of the Special Olympics this summer that takes place from July 3-7. A lot of her gymnasts (both ISU and other programs) are helping out with this as well. Not exactly on topic... but shows what she does for the community as well.

[crash_zone]

that's to bad. i hate losing good coaches like this....
What are the chances that we can pick up another good coach and continue improving/winning?

[iamtumbler]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(crash_zone @ Jun 8 2006, 08:48 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
that's to bad. i hate losing good coaches like this....
What are the chances that we can pick up another good coach and continue improving/winning?
[/b][/quote]


This will be a tough one. Not only was KJ (and her husband Lou who will also be leaving with her) a phenominal coach technically, she was by far the best choreographer in the NCAA. Our team was ranked in the top 4 all year on floor. She created routines that were far superior in artistic and entertainment value then even the top teams like Alabama and Georgia (who have won almost every gym national championship in NCAA history). We will be able to find other coaches with great technical ability, but KJ and Lou were phenominal at selecting athletes who all got along and were willing to work hard to improve... and if they didn't, they quickly found themselves off the team. They were able to select teams with great team chemistry... unfortunately it's hard to find that in any collegiate coach... let alone in a sport so specialized as gymnastics.

[rollcy]

This is most disappointing. Coach K.J. was the 2nd most successful coach in I.S.U, history next to Dr. Harold Nichols. New A.D. needs to be held accountable.

[Wesley]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rollcy @ Jun 9 2006, 05:38 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> This is most disappointing. Coach K.J. was the 2nd most successful coach in I.S.U, history next to Dr. Harold Nichols. New A.D. needs to be held accountable. [/b][/quote]



Maybe the real reason why JP did not up the ante was he had just spent $1.4M on WM departure and $$$ on McD hire. No money in till for now with need for football stadium project.



How much do we think it would have taken to keep the coach? New facility or more coachala $$$?

[JokersWild]

Gymnastics doesn't bring in any money. So, even as great as ISU was this year, you never really heard much buzz about it. Hilton wasn't very full either. So, really, until we have enough money coming in from football and basketball, sports like gymnastics will be of low importance. Especially since we can't just run out and build a new facility for it.

[Land Shark]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rollcy @ Jun 9 2006, 05:38 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> This is most disappointing. Coach K.J. was the 2nd most successful coach in I.S.U, history next to Dr. Harold Nichols. New A.D. needs to be held accountable. [/b][/quote]



No way!! KJ isn't even the most successful Gymnastics coach in ISU history. (that honor belongs to Ed Gagnier who won three NCAA tiltes) In fact, KJ isn't even the most successful coach in ISU women's history. Ron Renko had a very nice run w/ the women's track program finishing second in NCAAXC and having recruited the most famous ISU female athlete of all time (Nawal El Matwakel sp?). YOu could argue that Fenelly has done more w/ wome's hoops than KJ did w/ gymanstics. At least KJ inherited a solid program form Amy Pyle..



When you loosely throw around comments, please be sensitive to those who knew or competed or just respected HOF coaches like Jack Maguire (swimming) or Capp Timm or John Majors and Earle Bruce.

[Land Shark]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rollcy @ Jun 9 2006, 05:38 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> This is most disappointing. Coach K.J. was the 2nd most successful coach in I.S.U, history next to Dr. Harold Nichols. New A.D. needs to be held accountable. [/b][/quote]



No way!! KJ isn't even the most successful Gymnastics coach in ISU history. (that honor belongs to Ed Gagnier who won three NCAA tiltes) In fact, KJ isn't even the most successful coach in ISU women's history. Ron Renko had a very nice run w/ the women's track program finishing second in NCAA XC and having recruited the most famous ISU female athlete of all time (Nawal El Matwakel sp?). YOu could argue that Fenelly has done more w/ women's hoops than KJ did w/ gymanstics. At least KJ inherited a solid program form Amy Pyle..



When you loosely throw around comments, please be sensitive to those who knew or competed or just respected HOF coaches like Jack Maguire (swimming) or Capp Timm or John Majors and Earle Bruce.

[Flynn4Heisman]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chuckd4735 @ Jun 8 2006, 02:24 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
Very very good looking. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img][/b][/quote]

Damn right! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif[/img]