Kevin graduated from Angelo State University in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and one in marketing. He married his college sweetheart Kimberly in 1996 and they have four children, a son in law and daughter in law. (Kaiden and Brinleigh, Kait and Keaton, Kreed, and Krue)  Kevin is a seven-time national champion and two-time World Champion in tumbling and trampoline gymnastics. He was a pioneer in the sport of TNT and the first person to tumble on a rod tumbling service. Kevin is best known around the sport for being willing to do skills others would not. He traveled the world to compete for Team USA and travelled the nation with his three baby sisters in the sport of TNT.  As a coach he expects much, pushes hard, loves harder and is a student of the technical tools that help develop all kinds of athletes from gymnast to football to volleyball and beyond.

Kirkland is an ordained minister, the president of Katalyst Ministries, the author of two books and an international speaker. The Bible verse Micah 7:8 was the inspiration for the name of RISE. The verse reads: Do not gloat over me, my enemy. Though I have fallen, I will RISE. Though, I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.

Coach Kevin spent 7 years as a youth pastor and 13 years as an itinerant speaker all over the world. The ministry that is RISE has been a dream for Kevin since he was a child and his vision for RISE goes well beyond creating the best gymnast in the country.  

“Rise is bigger than gymnastics. My call is to be a part of seeing God change the culture for today’s young people. Rise is its own culture where unconditional love is the norm, encouragement is a constant and training young people to Rise in Christ above all the world says they cannot do is the goal. We will build champions in the sport of gymnastics, but the vision of Rise is to make a positive impact on athletes and families.  Or goal is to love relentlessly as God has loved us.”

 

Contact Info:
kevin@werisegymnastics.com