DURHAM, N.C. — On a sun-soaked afternoon in Cameron Indoor’s neighboring conference suite, Duke Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Kerstin Kimel settled into a plush chair across from field hockey standout Shelby Bumgarner. The walls, adorned with historic photos of championship moments, framed the conversation between two women bonded by sport, legacy, and a shared love for Duke. But this wasn’t just another media moment. It was something deeper—a reflection, a celebration, and above all, a passing down of wisdom.
For Kimel, now in her 29th season at the helm of Duke women’s lacrosse, this was more than a casual chat. It was a chance to look back on a lifetime in the sport and offer perspective to the next generation. With the kind of grace that can only come from decades of leading, mentoring, and trailblazing, Kimel peeled back the layers of her storied journey.
“It’s surreal to think back to those early days,” Kimel said with a smile. “When I took the job in 1995, there wasn’t a locker room. There wasn’t a team. There was an idea—a dream. I remember walking the campus for the first time and thinking, ‘This is a place where something special can grow.’ I didn’t know how or when. I just knew.”
That instinct has since paid dividends.
What began as an ambitious undertaking—launching a women’s lacrosse program in the South at a time when the sport’s popularity was still largely concentrated in the Northeast—has turned into a nationally respected powerhouse. Kimel has led Duke to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, produced a litany of All-Americans, and inspired countless young women to take up the sport. But the beginnings were far from glamorous.
“When you start from scratch, you learn how to be resourceful,” Kimel explained. “I was young, I was eager, and I had to do everything—recruit, schedule, plan practices, order equipment, coordinate travel, even do laundry sometimes. There were days where I’d question, ‘What did I get myself into?’ But then I’d see the players show up, fully committed, fully bought in, and I’d remember why I said yes.”
Bumgarner, nodding in admiration, asked Kimel what initially drew her to lacrosse. Her answer was immediate.
“Passion,” Kimel said. “I loved the game. I loved how fast it was, how much it demanded from you—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. I was a three-sport athlete growing up, and lacrosse was the one that challenged me the most. It required creativity, toughness, communication, and an ability to think on your feet. It was beautiful and gritty at the same time.”
Kimel’s journey began as a player at the University of Maryland, where she won national titles and played under the legendary Cindy Timchal. It was there, under Timchal’s demanding yet empowering coaching style, that Kimel first imagined herself one day leading her own program.
“She showed me that coaching could be more than just a job—it could be a calling,” Kimel said. “The way she built a culture of belief and pushed us beyond what we thought was possible stayed with me. She made me want to do the same for others.”
After a brief assistant coaching stint at Maryland and then a formative period at James Madison, Kimel received a life-changing call. Duke, a school known for basketball glory but still expanding its women’s athletics portfolio, was creating a lacrosse program. They wanted her to lead it.
“It was a leap,” Kimel said. “I was 26 years old. No one in my family had ever been to Duke. But I trusted my gut. I saw potential—in the school, in the area, in the possibilities. And I believed we could build something that would last.”
The early seasons were challenging. Recruiting players to a program that didn’t yet exist was no small task, and the Southern climate, while welcoming, presented its own obstacles. There weren’t many high school programs in North Carolina, Georgia, or Florida at the time. Much of Kimel’s initial recruiting pipeline came from traditional hotbeds like Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. But over time, she saw things shift.
“I’d walk into gyms and see girls wearing Duke lacrosse shirts,” Kimel said, still visibly moved by the memory. “We’d go to camps, and kids from places like Texas and California were asking about Duke. That’s when I realized—this wasn’t just about building a team anymore. It was about growing the game.”
Growing the game became Kimel’s north star. She hosted clinics, mentored high school coaches, and advocated fiercely for youth programs. Her voice carried weight, not just because of her coaching success, but because she genuinely cared. She knew the sport could open doors, just as it had for her.
“I never wanted Duke to be an isolated success,” she said. “I wanted it to be a catalyst. If a young girl watched us play and thought, ‘I want to do that,’ then we were winning, no matter the scoreboard.”
That mindset resonated with players. Over the years, Kimel has coached Olympians, All-Americans, and even future coaches. But she insists her greatest victories have come in the form of relationships.
“When players come back years later and tell you how much this program meant to them—that’s the win,” Kimel said. “When they bring their kids to games, or call you when they get a new job or go through something tough—that’s the stuff that stays with you. It’s family.”
Bumgarner leaned in, visibly moved. “What’s been your proudest moment?” she asked.
Kimel paused for a long beat, her eyes misting.
“There’ve been a lot,” she said quietly. “But one that stands out was our first trip to the NCAA Final Four. We had worked so hard, year after year, and to finally break through—it validated everything. It wasn’t just about that team. It was for every player who came before them. Every girl who said yes when Duke lacrosse was just a concept on a piece of paper. I thought about them all.”
As the conversation continued, Kimel turned her attention to the present. While the game has grown exponentially and the challenges have evolved—NIL, transfer portals, increased media pressure—her core values have remained the same.
“We still talk about integrity. We still talk about accountability, about service, about being a great teammate. Those things don’t change,” she said. “What I’ve learned is that if you anchor in your values, you can adapt to anything. And if you love what you do, you’ll find ways to keep growing.”
Kimel credits much of her staying power to the Duke community.
“This place—it’s magic,” she said. “The people, the support, the academic standard—it pushes you to be your best. And to be able to represent women’s sports here? That’s a privilege I never take lightly.”
She smiled at Bumgarner. “And it’s incredible to see what women like you are doing, too. You’re writing the next chapter.”
Bumgarner beamed. “What advice would you give to someone like me—an athlete thinking about coaching someday?”
Kimel didn’t hesitate.
“Lead with empathy,” she said. “Understand your players as people first. Know their stories. Care about them deeply. And be relentless in your preparation. The X’s and O’s matter, but the heart of it all is connection. If they know you care, they’ll run through walls for you.”
The two women sat in silence for a moment, the weight of Kimel’s words lingering in the air like echoes in a cathedral.
As the conversation wound down, Kimel reflected on what she hopes her legacy will be.
“I want to be remembered as someone who made a difference. Who showed up with purpose. Who helped build something that gave young women a chance to dream big and chase greatness. I want Duke lacrosse to stand for more than wins and rankings. I want it to stand for courage, commitment, and community.”
As they hugged goodbye, it was clear this was more than an interview. It was a passing of the torch. A moment of intergenerational sisterhood forged in the fire of competition, resilience, and belief.
Kerstin Kimel may have started her journey with a blank slate and a dream, but nearly three decades later, she’s written a masterpiece—one defined not only by what she’s built, but by how she’s inspired others to believe in what’s possible.