Cougars new dance coach plans to climb to "Xtreme" heights

Monday, December 2, 2024

A Dubuque native, she graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 2019 and Loras College in 2022 with a degree in business administration. Since then, she has coached large, nationally recognized competition teams with over 100 dancers and 200+ students at the studio.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) recently announced the hiring of the dance program's first coach. Kylie Goedken Kirman, the head studio director of Xtreme Dance in Dubuque, will lead the Cougars starting in fall 2025.

A Dubuque native, she graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 2019 and Loras College in 2022 with a degree in business administration. At the time of her high school graduation, her family purchased Xtreme Dance. Since then, she has coached large, nationally recognized competition teams with over 100 dancers and 200+ students at the studio.

"From a young age," Goedken said, "I knew I wanted to share my love for dance with others and help young athletes realize their full potential. It's always been my dream to not only teach dance but to be a mentor and motivator, guiding my dancers toward their goals, no matter how big or small."

She added to her resume in 2023 when she became the first head coach of the Senior High School dance program. Since Goedken started there, her roster sizes have grown while furthering the skill of her athletes.

"I had the exciting challenge of creating the program from the ground up," she said. "The growth and success of that program has been incredibly rewarding, both personally and professionally."

In her free time, she judges regional and national competitions nationwide. Her dance expertise will be valuable to the Cougars' newly created program.

Goedken mentioned that she brings a combination of energy and relentless drive.

"I'm determined to build a legacy of success, create a winning culture and ensure that our team stands out, not only for our talent but for our dedication, passion and sportsmanship," she said.

"Kylie is a great addition to our athletic department staff," Athletic Director Nick Weinmeister said, "and our dance student-athletes are fortunate to have a coach with the background and experience that Kylie has in dance."

She's already set priorities and goals for her student-athletes and team.

"I want to start by competing at the state level, where we can establish a solid foundation, develop our skills and create a cohesive team culture," Goedken said. "Long term, I'm determined to take the program to the national stage. I want to grow our roster into a larger, highly competitive team that consistently performs nationally. My ultimate goal is to win a national championship."

Goedken's true passion is coaching, and her success in the sport is evident. Her first day as the head coach of NICC dance was Nov. 27. Stay up-to-date with all Cougar news at nicc.edu/news.

Tags: athletics, dance

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