KIM KAUL
Athlete/Coach, Golf, Softball, Basketball
When it comes to versatility, very few can match Kim Kaul. From a four sport star in high school to one of the top ranked amateur golfers in New York State, the West Seneca native has accomplished more than most of us could ever imagine. More importantly, she is an inspiration to female athletes of all ages.
Her storied athletic career began on the playing fields and courts at West Seneca West HS. She captained the basketball, volleyball, softball and tennis teams and earned first team ECIC Division I All-Star status in basketball (twice) and softball (three times). She helped lead West Seneca West to a division championship in basketball and went undefeated for two years in doubles competition on the tennis courts. She was recognized by being inducted onto the West Seneca Central Wall of Fame in 1998, the very first year the award was presented.
From there she took her talents to Canisius College, where she helped build a new collegiate women’s program. She focused primarily on basketball and averaged in double figures her first two years before being sidelined with an injury as a junior. She recovered to lead the Griffs to a 13-7 mark as a senior and was eventually named the college’s Student-Athlete of the Year in 1980.
Kim’s post-college career focused on both playing softball and coaching at Orchard Park High School. As an amateur softball player, she kept her competitive juices flowing by playing 17 years with the Shamrocks. A five time player of the year, Kim led the team in hits and doubles for 10 seasons and her career .350 batting average is the highest of all Shamrocks. She earned All-American honors in 1992 from the Amateur Softball Association and was one of 40 players selected to the 1993 U.S. Olympic Festival. That same year she was one of 100 invited to the U.S. Olympic Trials.
In addition to leading the Shamrocks, Kim also participated in seven Empire State Games competitions winning five gold medals and two silvers. For her efforts on the diamond, she has been elected into both the WNY Softball Hall of Fame and the Metro Buffalo ASA Softball Hall of Fame.
As a coach, Kim was also an overachiever, capturing six divisional and one sectional Class A-1 basketball titles and leading Orchard Park to the 1994 state championship softball game. Her career basketball coaching record is a stellar 249-158 (.612), while her softball mark is a remarkable 203-139 (.594).
In addition to her accomplishments on and off the fields of Western New York, Kim is currently recognized as one of the very best female amateur golfers to ever come from this area. She owns 14 local and regional championships, won 13 Gowanda Country Club titles, has been the Buffalo District Golf Association Player of the Year three times, placed second in the 2005 Women’s New York State Amateur, made the 64 person cut in three USGA Senior Women’s Championships, placed 8th out of 156 golfers in the 2010 Canadian Senior Women’s Championship and was the 2008 NYS Women’s Senior titlist, setting a course record in the process.
Kim continues to compete on the links in addition to imparting her words of encouragement and wisdom to the members of the Orchard Park girls modified volleyball and softball teams.
