Jimmy Kennedy - Associate Head Coach - Staff Directory - Oklahoma State University Athletics

Staff Directory

Jimmy Kennedy

Title:
Associate Head Coach
Email:
Phone:
(405) 744-4541

Jimmy Kennedy begins his first season as associate head coach at Oklahoma State following stints at a pair of Big Ten programs.

Kennedy joins the staff after serving as an assistant at Penn State for the past three seasons, where he played an important role in the team’s immense success. The Nittany Lions captured the NCAA team title in all three of Kennedy’s seasons and never suffered a defeat in the regular season with a perfect 45-0 dual record in that time. Kennedy also helped guide Penn State wrestlers to 11 NCAA individual championships and 22 All-America honors. The team saw just as much success among Big Ten competition, earning a pair of team titles and boasting 13 individual winners.

In his last season on staff, Penn State ran away with the national team title after racking up 172.5 points, breaking the all-time NCAA record. PSU’s 100-point margin of victory was also an NCAA record as the team crowned four individual champions and eight All-Americans. Kennedy celebrated the second of his two championships at the Big Ten meet, along with five individual winners. Following the season, all four of Kennedy’s national champions were finalists for the Dan Hodge Trophy, as 197-pounder Aaron Brooks was ultimately named the recipient. Brooks, along with teammate Carter Starocci, became the first four-time NCAA titlists in Penn State history.

The two campaigns prior to 2024 saw more of the same with a pair of team titles and a combined 7 national champions, 14 All-Americans and eight conference champions.

Before his tenure in State College, Kennedy also spent time as an assistant coach at Northwestern, volunteering in 2019 and serving full-time in the two years after.

Kennedy put together an impressive career as an athlete as well, first at Illinois from 2007-11 and then on the international stage. For the Fighting Illini, Kennedy was a three-time All-American, hitting podium in 2008, 2009 and 2011, the first two coming at 133 pounds and the last at 141. He was just the 12th three-time All-American in program history and ended his collegiate career with a record of 119-24.

Headlining Kennedy’s lengthy list of freestyle accolades was an appearance at the World Championships in 2014 while representing the United States. Wrestling at 61 kg, Kennedy was victorious at the USA World Team Trials and went on to represent his country in Tashkent, Uzbekistan later that summer. He came close to reaching that stage yet again with runner-up finishes at the Trials in 2013 and 2017, and was a champion at the 2016 U.S. Open. His other accomplishments include victories at the 2017 Paris International, 2014 Yasar Dogu, 2013 Intercontinental Cup, 2012 and 2013 Guelph Open and 2012 New York Athletic Club International.

Beginning his wrestling career at Grant Community High School in Fox Lake, Illinois, Kennedy reached the state finals in all four seasons with victories as a sophomore and senior. Kennedy’s senior year in 2006 saw him break the state record for takedowns in a season with 384 and was named Illinois’ recipient of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award. He won a cadet national championship his sophomore year and completed his career with a 187-3 record.

NCAA Team Championships Coached
2022 – Assistant Coach
2023 – Assistant Coach
2024 – Assistant Coach

NCAA Individual Champions Coached
2022 – Roman Bravo-Young, 133 pounds; Nick Lee, 141 pounds; Carter Starocci, 174 pounds; Aaron Brooks, 184 pounds; Max Dean, 197 pounds
2023 – Carter Starocci, 174 pounds; Aaron Brooks, 184 pounds
2024 – Levi Haines, 157 pounds; Carter Starocci, 174 pounds; Aaron Brooks, 197 pounds; Greg Kerkvliet, Heavyweight

Big Ten Team Championships Coached
2023 – Assistant Coach
2024 – Assistant Coach

Senior Level Experience
2012 Guelph Open – First
2012 New York Athletic Club International – First
2013 World Team Trials – Second
2013 Intercontinental Cup – First
2013 Guelph Open – First
2014 World Championships – 10th
2014 Yasar Dogu - First
2016 U.S. Open - First
2017 World Team Trials – Second
2017 Paris International – First