Kim Kuzma - Women's Volleyball Coach - Kent State Golden Flashes

Kim Kuzma

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
kkuzma@kent.edu
Phone:
330-672-8462

Kim Kuzma begins her fourth season as an assistant on Kent State volleyball head coach Don Gromala's staff. In April she was named to the AVCA's Thirty under 30 list which recognizes the top 30 up-and coming volleyball coaches under the age of 30.

Again in 2014 Kent State showed signs of a program on the rise. With 17 overall wins, 8 conference wins and a MAC tournament win all for the first time since 2007. The team's 2,007 digs was the 3rd most in Kent State history and the most since 2007.The 122 digs in the MAC tournament game were the third most in school history and most in rally scoring era. Mentored Challlen Geraghty to MAC All-freshman team the 1st since 2009. Geraghty's 551 digs were the 3rd most in school history by a freshman.Her 5.10 digs per set in MAC play were good enough to finish second in the league

The 2013 season saw the Golden Flashes posting a 12-18 record and qualifying for the Mid-American Conference Tournament for the first time since the current eight-team format was introduced in 2011. The Golden Flashes doubled their overall and conference win totals from the previous season.

Great strides from the team’s defensive specialists played a role in the Golden Flashes’ improvement. Kent State totaled 1,722 digs and 14.97 digs per set for the season, which are the highest marks since 2007. On September 7, Kent State surpassed 100 digs as a team in a match for the first time since 2004 (104).

During her first two seasons on staff, Kuzma helped Hannah Herc develop into one of the best liberos in Golden Flashes history. Under Kuzma’s tutelage, Herc turned in two of the best defensive seasons ever by a Kent State player. Her 479 digs as a senior in 2013 rank third in the single-season record book and her 403 as a junior in 2012 rank 10th. Herc concluded her career with the third-most digs in Kent State history (1,287).

A four-year standout at Wisconsin, Kuzma served as a team captain as a senior in 2010. She completed her collegiate career third on Wisconsin's all-time digs list after excelling at the libero spot in the lineup. A standout in the classroom as well as on the court, Kuzma received Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2008.

Prior to her collegiate career, Kuzma had a distinguished prep career. In 2007, she was named an AVCA High School Senior All-American, one of PrepVolleyball.com’s top 10 defensive players and a national player of the year finalist. Kuzma started at libero for the U.S. Youth National Team in 2004 and 2005, helping the squad win the 2004 NORCECA Championship and place fourth in the 2005 World Championship.

Kuzma got her coaching start as an assistant coach with Munciana Volleyball Club, where she spent six years with the 18 Samurai team. Under Kuzma's guidance, the club won two national titles. She also served as a camp coach at Wisconsin and at several high schools.

A native of Muncie, Ind., Kuzma earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in life sciences communication with a concentration in business from Wisconsin in 2011.