LSU probably entered the 2025 NCAA gymnastics season feeling in control. But Oklahoma Women’s Gymnastics had other plans. As we enter yet another week of the college gym season, Oklahoma remains undefeated and riding high on that Number #1 spot. Is there something special this season? Well, the Sooners have a champion coach and her expertise to thank. And, and, she is raising a lot of eyebrows lately!

Well, we’re talking about Oklahoma WAG’s coach, KJ Kindler. From 2006 to now, she steered the Sooners to six NCAA gymnastics titles, and it looks like this year could easily be 7. After all, the way Oklahoma wrapped up their last game, a 197.825-197.225 victory over No. 8 Kentucky Friday night inside Lloyd Noble Center, was commendable. But here’s a little glitch in the perfect picture. It looks like Kinder’s one particular trait is racking all the praise. Is that really the secret ingredient? Or is it the commentators just raving about it that has led to the hype?

Speaking briefly to the hosts of the Franchise 107.7 Radio show on TV ahead of their match against Kentucky on February 7, KJ Kindler admitted that they are being showered with a lot of praise. She noted, “Coming into the Lloyd Noble Center, its a tough task, but everybody’s up for the challenge. And we always get everyone’s best performance. I don’t know what that happens, but we always do….” But what’s the praise for?

Well, a Reddit thread by r/Gymnastics discusses how it is KJ Kindler’s choreography that always gets praised by the commentators. The thread, titled “Whyyyyyy is every commentator always praising and complimenting KJ Kindler’s choreography?”, dives into something a lot of fans have noticed: every time you watch an Oklahoma meet, the commentators cannot stop gushing over Kindler’s choreography. But do the NCAA gymnastics fans feel the same way? Apparently, there’s a divided room! Some think the praise is well-earned, while others are side-eyeing the constant hype.

Well, Kindler is known as one of the most creative and unique choreographers in the NCAA gymnastics landscape. She’s among those rare head coaches in the NCAA who choreograph both the floor and beam routines for her athletes. Let’s take the Kentucky meet as an example. If you happened to watch Elle Mueller’s intense choreography on the floor for a 9.8 score on Saturday, you’d know exactly what we are talking about!

But do the fans think there’s something truly extraordinary about Kindler’s choreography? Well, not all do!

Kindler’s choreography or NCAA gymnastics commentary, which is overhyped?

Well, on this matter, the NCAA gymnastics fans weren’t hesitant to call a spade, ‘a spade.’ One of them wrote, “It is terrible!!! I don’t understand why they do it… just like I don’t understand why KJ always refers to Oklahoma as under dogs.” Well, honestly, Oklahoma Gymnastics is far from being the underdog. They finished 2024’s regular season on the top of the table, even above LSU. And in 2023, they bagged the title. So let’s just scratch that out!

Also, when it comes to KJ Kindler’s choreography being terrible, that’s a really strong opinion for someone who was so good at it that as a junior in high school, her coach allowed her to make up her own floor routines. Even though she doesn’t have formal dance experience, thanks to her jazz and ballet classes here and there, Kindler developed the expertise. And when she moved to Iowa as an assistant coach, she believed, “that [choreography] was one of my strengths and that it was something that I could bring to the table that the other staff members didn’t have.”

But the list of those fans who felt that it wasn’t worthy of praise every single time was rather long. Another fan resented it saying, “Yeah – you’re right. As a former dancer, I appreciate art & creative interpretation… but, her choreo for WAG NCAA is just NOT IT. Every time they praise her choreo – I’m like – WHAT?” Well, in 2020, speaking to Inside Gymnastics, KJ Kindler said that there are loose days. At times, she makes up NCAA gymnastics routines and realizes it’s just not working for her, and then they start over with a totally different piece.

While starting over is fine, KJ Kindler’s biggest USP in choreography is that, “The really great thing is that even if I have put a lot of effort into the first routine, I am smart enough to know that it should be scrapped and we need to start over.” She has that sense of judgment as per what she claims. But fans? One of them noted, “I feel like KJ’s choreography has its highs and lows….. KJ has the skills, but sometimes her choices just don’t land. Also, the field isn’t that deep, as most schools can barely call what they put out “choreography” lol.””

Although this NCAA gymnastics season, Kindler’s choices may be a bit questionable. As the same fan highlighted, Audrey’s rag doll routine features some very odd moves, while the shimmering and the exaggerated open hands look awful. But there’s also a bright side! Jordan’s and Webb’s floor routines have always been well-choreographed, and Mueller’s routine this year follows that same path.

Clearly, it’s not all bad! Thus, another fan thought that maybe all this was targeted hatred against Oklahoma. They said, “Thank you!! The hate is unreal. there is only one better team with choreography and that is UCLA. OU has beautiful, unique choreography that those girls perform 110%.” In 2020, KJ Kindler herself agreed that Valeria Kondor Field from UCLA was the first person to take choreography to another level in NCAA gymnastics. And Kindler’s gotten greatly inspired from that.

So maybe Kindler is all too good, or maybe it’s just unnecessary hate! But a father unleashed another perspective and said, “It isn’t just Oklahoma, it’s NCAA as a whole. Every commentator talks about how “fun” or “amazing” the floor routines are even if the gymnasts spend 65% of it rolling around on the floor.” There have been some major issues highlighted this year when it comes to NCAA gymnastics commentary. So perhaps this is just another lapse in the picture. Comment below and let us know which perspective you agree with!