Swimming & Diving
Kumbier, Kayla
Kayla Kumbier
- Title:
- Assistant Swimming Coach / Women's Recruiting
- Email:
- kaylamk@unc.edu
- Phone:
- 919-962-6000
Kayla Kumbier joined the UNC swimming and diving coaching staff prior to the 2022-23 season after spending one year as an assistant coach at LSU.
As a member of the coaching staff, Kumbier helped the Tar Heels' women's team earn a 10th place finish at the 2023 NCAA Championships and instructed seven All-America swimmers. UNC swimmers recorded a combined nine individual and relay records in 2023.
During her one season in Baton Rouge she primarily coached the middle distance athletes, while serving as the women’s recruiting coordinator. Under her tutelage, Katrina Milutinovich and Brooks Curry each qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2022, while the LSU men’s team finished 15th at the national championship meet.
Prior to arriving at LSU, she spent one year as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego. Prior to her time at USD, she spent two years at the UC San Diego as the lead coach for the middle-distance group, recruiting coordinator and alumni and parent liaison.
In addition to coaching Division I swimmers, she has extensive experience with club and Division II swimmers. Her competitive experience at the Division I level for the University of Northern Iowa has helped her mold the swimmers of the future at Minnesota State University, Mankato and Allegheny College.
Kumbier coached several NCAA qualifiers and All-America performers at the Division II level while at UC San Diego. A handful of qualifiers and All-Americans represented MSU during her tenure. Kumbier assisted in coaching the 2020 NCAA men’s 50 free champion, NCAA women’s 200 IM runner-up and the 2019-20 NCAA women’s 200 medley relay runner-up.
As a volunteer assistant at MSU, Mankato, Kumbier worked with the sprint, freestyle and butterfly specialists. When she arrived at Allegheny College, her role expanded to coaching and designing workouts for swimmers who specialized in sprint, middle-distance, and distance events.
She served as the head coach of the La Jolla Lightning YMCA Swim Team from 2018-2019.
Kumbier was a four-year letterman at Nothern Iowa, twice earning Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete awards. In 2014, she took home the MVC Leadership and Service Award and earned a nomination for NCAA Woman of the Year. In 2016, she was the recipient of the CSCAA Jean Freeman Scholarship which is awarded annually to six collegiate assistant coaches whose exceptional contributions have brought recognition to their institution.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in movement and exercise science with a double emphasis in exercise science and sport psychology and a minor in coaching. After graduating, she attended MSU and received her master’s in sport and exercise psychology, while serving as a graduate assistant on MSU’s staff.
As a member of the coaching staff, Kumbier helped the Tar Heels' women's team earn a 10th place finish at the 2023 NCAA Championships and instructed seven All-America swimmers. UNC swimmers recorded a combined nine individual and relay records in 2023.
During her one season in Baton Rouge she primarily coached the middle distance athletes, while serving as the women’s recruiting coordinator. Under her tutelage, Katrina Milutinovich and Brooks Curry each qualified for the NCAA Championships in 2022, while the LSU men’s team finished 15th at the national championship meet.
Prior to arriving at LSU, she spent one year as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego. Prior to her time at USD, she spent two years at the UC San Diego as the lead coach for the middle-distance group, recruiting coordinator and alumni and parent liaison.
In addition to coaching Division I swimmers, she has extensive experience with club and Division II swimmers. Her competitive experience at the Division I level for the University of Northern Iowa has helped her mold the swimmers of the future at Minnesota State University, Mankato and Allegheny College.
Kumbier coached several NCAA qualifiers and All-America performers at the Division II level while at UC San Diego. A handful of qualifiers and All-Americans represented MSU during her tenure. Kumbier assisted in coaching the 2020 NCAA men’s 50 free champion, NCAA women’s 200 IM runner-up and the 2019-20 NCAA women’s 200 medley relay runner-up.
As a volunteer assistant at MSU, Mankato, Kumbier worked with the sprint, freestyle and butterfly specialists. When she arrived at Allegheny College, her role expanded to coaching and designing workouts for swimmers who specialized in sprint, middle-distance, and distance events.
She served as the head coach of the La Jolla Lightning YMCA Swim Team from 2018-2019.
Kumbier was a four-year letterman at Nothern Iowa, twice earning Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete awards. In 2014, she took home the MVC Leadership and Service Award and earned a nomination for NCAA Woman of the Year. In 2016, she was the recipient of the CSCAA Jean Freeman Scholarship which is awarded annually to six collegiate assistant coaches whose exceptional contributions have brought recognition to their institution.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in movement and exercise science with a double emphasis in exercise science and sport psychology and a minor in coaching. After graduating, she attended MSU and received her master’s in sport and exercise psychology, while serving as a graduate assistant on MSU’s staff.
Carolina Insider - Interview with Henri Veesaar (Full Segment) - September 8, 2025
Monday, September 08
UNC Field Hockey: Carolina Holds Off Princeton, 3-2
Sunday, September 07
UNC Women's Soccer: Tar Heels Shut Out JMU, 3-0
Sunday, September 07
UNC Volleyball: Tar Heels Sweep Oral Roberts
Sunday, September 07
