The Communique

Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: Sports

Kirkwood women's basketball coach Kim Muhl stands in Johnson Hall beneath a few of the national championship banners his teams have won. In 21 years at Kirkwood, Muhl has tallied five national titles, more than 600 wins and was recently honored with the Kim S. Muhl Endowed Scholarship

Coach Kim Muhl has been an educator and women's basketball coach for 22 years, 21 of them at Kirkwood Community College. Muhl recently achieved a milestone: his 600th win while coaching the Eagles

Along the way, he led the Eagles to five national championships and has become one of the most accomplished coaches in the National Junior College Athletic Association

The 600th win came Dec. 30 when the Eagles beat Hutchinson Community College, 58-52, at the Cougar Holiday Classic at Illinois Central Community College.

"My reaction was not anything special as (the win) it happened on the road and we won the Illinois Central tourney," Muhl said. "So it was another game that just happened to be 600."

Muhl said he maintains a competitive edge by adapting the way he coaches season after season to his team's particular set of skills.

He said his team's strength this season is its overall depth. The team's weakness is getting everyone to buy into play execution and rebounding.

He said he studies other coaches, such as coaching legend John Wood of UCLA, to adopt things that will work for his current team.

According to Muhl, every season at a two-year school is one of rebuilding and replacing players. In Muhl's opinion, the hardest teams to beat this year are Iowa Central Community College, Des Moines Area Community College and Marshalltown Community College.

This year, Muhl said, his priorities haven't changed. Winning regional and national tournaments are always at the top of the list. If Muhl and his team win another national tournament, it will be the fourth consecutive national title for the Eagles women's basketball team.

"I just want to continue coaching," Muhl said. "The wins will take care of themselves."

Muhl said he has many people to thank, in particular his wife, mother and family for understanding all the times he was not there; former Kirkwood President Norm Nielsen for giving him the opportunity to coach at Kirkwood and the entire Kirkwood administration for its continued support.

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