Nova Southeastern University

"From my experience, Coach Kim is professional, hardworking, and genuinely invested in building this program. She took a program that started with fewer than five athletes and helped grow it into a team of around 40, while working toward a new boathouse, advocating for the university to invest in our program, and putting significant resources into our equipment and opportunities. Coaching isn’t always going to look the way every athlete wants it to. She uses data, experiments with lineups and boats, tries different combinations, and sometimes those decisions won’t work. To me, that shows that she is willing to adapt, take risks, and figure out what works best for the team. I also think communication is a huge part of having a positive relationship with a coach. If you feel like you want a stronger connection with your coach, or you feel like something isn’t being understood, communicate that. Coaches aren’t mind readers, and they can only respond to what they know. Building a relationship takes effort from both sides and can grow over time. I also think it’s important not to automatically assume that having stronger communication or a closer relationship with certain athletes means favoritism. People naturally communicate differently with different people. Some athletes are more outspoken, more involved, or make more of an effort to communicate with their coaches. That doesn’t automatically mean they are being favored. Coaches are people too, and they should be able to build genuine professional relationships with their athletes at everyone’s own pace. Our team is very connected, and we spend an enormous amount of time together. We chose to be here, and we show up alongside the same women every day. We’re supposed to support each other, communicate, hold each other accountable, take care of our equipment, and be there for one another. Those expectations are part of being a team. Our first year has given us a lot to be proud of, and I’m excited to see what we can continue to build together. I don’t expect everyone to have the exact same experience or opinion, but I can speak for my own experience: Coach Kim has put a tremendous amount of work into UAlbany Rowing, and I appreciate everything she has done for this program."

"If Covid killed the team, she buried us. I saw that she is now a coach at UAlbany and got them a boat house. She got us a new facility too. It didn’t change the way she treated some of the girls. If you choose to go to UAlbany or anywhere else that she is coaching, make sure you know what you are getting into. Look past the new facility. Know that she plays favorites. Know that she doesn’t care if you are hurt and thinks you are faking. Know that she likes really long hard rows and won’t give you a break to drink. Ask lots of hard questions. Talk to the girls on the team. And look beyond the shiny new thing."

"Almost every aspect of her coaching was poor. As a former athlete of the UAlbany team I was left with a fear of rowing ever again and extremely damaged mental health and esteem after being scrutinized by her. I would say traumatized is an appropriate description. This coach had potential but unfortunately was unprofessional, mean, biased, never coached, unorganized, had double standards, and contributed and encouraged the most toxic team environment I have ever witnessed. She encouraged poor behavior in her athletes and turned them on eachother. It seemed like she got joy out of bullying her athletes that’s how consistent it was. On top of her mistreatment she also refused to provide helpful coaching and advice. Would never give corrections or adjustments and just sat in silence. Many of my teammates left the team and the driving factor was her for each one. Could not recommend less! I would never wish my experience on anyone."

"She clearly has no idea how to coach. She just keeps burning us out (especially last year). You’ll never have a rest day and she makes us do too many hours. This is for Albany rowing btw."

"I ain’t gonna rehash the same vibe. Coach Kim she alright to me but she drove off folk including a good coxswain and a really good rower and made other nice ones leave. I ain’t complainin cuz she treats me a favorite but you best watch out if you in her bad side."