Introducing the Class of 2026 Beyond Basketball
The Berenson Trophy is given to each inductee, named after founder of women’s basketball Senda Berenson. The Beyond the Berenson series is designed to tell the stories of the members of the Class of 2026 outside of their extraordinary basketball accomplishments. The Class of 2026 features some of the greatest players, coaches, and contributors that women’s basketball has ever seen. The winningest coach in NJCAA history Kim Muhl is one of them.
Kim Muhl: A Legacy Beyond Coaching
When Kim Muhl arrived at Kirkwood in 1989, he was not chasing championships or records.
“All I was trying to do was get a job,” Muhl admits.
“I could not find a job.”
His wife Freeda Muhl found a position first, then Muhl got lucky and landed a job at a local high school. That didn’t last long. Shortly after Muhl’s hire, the high school consolidated. Unsure of what the next step would be, Muhl caught a break when Kirkwood College had an opening for their men’s basketball coach. Muhl applied but fell a few spots short of the job. What about the women’s team? They still needed a coach. Muhl recalls coming back in for an interview and being hired on the spot.
Muhl’s hire proved to be the right one for Kirkwood. Since Muhl took over the helm at Kirkwood, winning has become a part of the program’s DNA. Muhl is a nine-time NJCAA Division II National Champion and the winningest coach in Junior College history, but sustaining such a level of success is not easy (though Muhl surely has made it look like it).
“Winning consistently at our level is really difficult because we replace kids every year,” explains Muhl. Division I coaches are only now experiencing constant chaos in the transfer portal, but Muhl has been navigating roster turnover for nearly four decades. “ I kind of laugh, because we’ve been doing it for 37 years,” he jokes.
While other programs cycled through periods of success and struggle, Muhl maintained Kirkwood’s place at the top of the NJCAA.
The secret? A coaching philosophy built on helping players first rediscover their love for the game.
Many of his players came to Kirkwood carrying disappointing performances, heartbreak from injury, or lingering doubt. Muhl prides himself in bringing back their joy of the game. “Seeing them leave Kirkwood, believing in themselves again, meant more than any championship.”
Focusing disproportionately on outcomes removes the focus from the true importance of coaching, as well as the value of players competing for each other and their shared love of basketball. “When I look back now, what means the most to me are the people,” Muhl says.
“We’ve had a lot of kids go to Division I,” Muhl expresses. “We emphasize getting your degree and being successful in life, whatever that may be. I’ve had so many kids go on and be very successful, financially, and personally.”
In 37 years, Muhl remained loyal to his Kirkwood program despite opportunities to coach elsewhere. That decision was shaped in part by the realities of the coaching profession. “You can get fired real quick,” Muhl acknowledges. There was never a perfect time to leave. As Muhl weighed his opportunities versus his family’s stages of life, staying at Kirkwood made the most sense. Muhl was rewarded for years of commitment to Kirkwood with a community of players who remain grateful for the impact he’s had on their lives.
But maybe the most impact came from the mark his players left on him. “Watching young women grow — not just as players, but as people — became the most meaningful part of coaching for me.”
After 37 years, Muhl capped off his career by being inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. “Outside of basketball, I don’t have a lot of hobbies,” jokes Muhl.
Still, he’s not concerned about what retirement may bring.
“I’m not worried about the next step. There’s always something to do.”
The greatest legacy of Muhl’s career will last far beyond his accomplishments. It will extend to the impact he was able to have in his players’ lives. Muhl’s dedication to Kirkwood has shown up in his accomplishments and makes him an example of what coaching is supposed to be.
Watch Kim’s full interview on our YouTube channel.
Written by Jadyn Zdanavage
