Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Jeffrey Gamza
Jimmy Kennedy Promoted to Assistant Coach
4/19/2019 10:16:00 AM | Wrestling
EVANSTON, Ill. — Three-time All-American Jimmy Kennedy has been promoted to assistant coach of the Northwestern wrestling program, it was announced Friday. Kennedy spent the 2018-19 season as the Wildcats' volunteer assistant coach.
"Jimmy has proven to be a tremendous asset to Northwestern Wrestling and I am excited to announce his promotion," said head coach Matt Storniolo. "His knowledge of the sport is unparalleled as is his worth ethic. I look forward to working with Jimmy and Andrew as we continue to build Wildcat Wrestling into a powerhouse."
Kennedy has already helped lift the Wildcats in his year on the coaching staff, helping qualify five wrestlers for the NCAA Championships and mentoring a pair of All-Americans in Sebastian Rivera and Ryan Deakin. NU had its best finish at the Big Ten Championships since the Conference expanded to 14 teams in 2014.
"Coaching has been a truly rewarding experience. I'm not sure there's much else quite as fulfilling," said Kennedy, an Illinois native. "Every day I wake up excited to go to work and help these guys become good wrestlers and even better men. Each and every one of them has bought into our philosophy and the beautiful thing is that our team is young. They are hungry for success and I'm just excited to be a part of their journey."
Kennedy joins the assistant coaching staff after Cody Brewer became the assistant coach at Virginia Tech.
Before joining NU, Kennedy wrestle for the New York Athletic Club, where he placed second at the World Team Trials in 2017. He was a U.S. World Team member in 2014 and, in 2016, was a U.S. Open Champion.
"Jimmy has proven to be a tremendous asset to Northwestern Wrestling and I am excited to announce his promotion," said head coach Matt Storniolo. "His knowledge of the sport is unparalleled as is his worth ethic. I look forward to working with Jimmy and Andrew as we continue to build Wildcat Wrestling into a powerhouse."
Kennedy has already helped lift the Wildcats in his year on the coaching staff, helping qualify five wrestlers for the NCAA Championships and mentoring a pair of All-Americans in Sebastian Rivera and Ryan Deakin. NU had its best finish at the Big Ten Championships since the Conference expanded to 14 teams in 2014.
"Coaching has been a truly rewarding experience. I'm not sure there's much else quite as fulfilling," said Kennedy, an Illinois native. "Every day I wake up excited to go to work and help these guys become good wrestlers and even better men. Each and every one of them has bought into our philosophy and the beautiful thing is that our team is young. They are hungry for success and I'm just excited to be a part of their journey."
Kennedy joins the assistant coaching staff after Cody Brewer became the assistant coach at Virginia Tech.
Before joining NU, Kennedy wrestle for the New York Athletic Club, where he placed second at the World Team Trials in 2017. He was a U.S. World Team member in 2014 and, in 2016, was a U.S. Open Champion.
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