Iowa History Daily: On March 22, 1997, the Kirkwood Community College women’s basketball team captured the program’s first national championship. Led by Head Coach Kim Muhl, the Eagles have soared to capture 8 national titles since 1997.
Hired by the Cedar Rapids-based community college during September of 1989, Muhl set about building one of the country’s most successful basketball programs at any level. Named NJCAA Region XI Coach of the Year in 1990 and 1995, Muhl entered the 1997 season with high hopes.
Led by Desiree Francis, a 6’1” freshman who came off the bench for the Eagles, Kirkwood marched to a 29-3 record and no. 1 ranking going into the NJCAA tournament. In the title game, Krikwood faced a Carl Sanburg team which handed the Eagles its last loss, 71-70, during a game earlier in the season. The Eagles got revenge when it mattered, claiming a 76-67 victory in the championship game.
Muhl’s gone on to put together one of the most impressive resumes of any coach: 31 regional finals, 22 national tournaments, and 8 national championships. 34 straight 20-win seasons, including 106 straight conference wins from 2006-2011, have resulted in more than 1000 career victories and counting for the Kirkwood coach. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar
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