Gene Kenney

Eugene Kenney (May 15, 1928 – June 14, 2022[2]) was an American wrestler, football player and soccer coach, who is best known as being the first head coach of the Michigan State Spartans men's soccer team. Kenney coached the Spartans from 1956 until 1969, where he led the Spartans to two NCAA co-championships in 1967 and 1968. Following his retirement from coaching, Kenney worked as an athletic administrator for the Michigan State athletics program from 1970 until his retirement in 1994. During his tenure in the school's athletics department, he published Soccer: Sports Techniques a book about philosophies and team strategies to approach the sport.[3]

Gene Kenney
Born
Eugene Kenney

(1928-05-28)May 28, 1928
Urbana, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJune 14, 2022(2022-06-14) (aged 94)
Occupation(s)Soccer coach, athletics administration
Years active1956–1994
Known forMichigan State Spartans men's soccer coach, led team to 2 national championships
Notable workPublished book Soccer: Sports Techniques[1]

Football and wrestling career

Kenney's collegiate sports career began in 1946 when he was a four-year member of the Illinois Fighting Illini football team.[4] Kenney never played a competitive game while part of the football team.[5] Kenney was a four-year player in high school football for the Urbana Tigers varsity football team.[4]

Outside of football, Kenney was also an amateur wrestler, as he was a member of the Illinois Fighting Illini wrestling team. Kenney was a one-year letterwinner, being a member of the 1950 wrestling team.[6] Upon graduation in 1950, Kenney became an assistant coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels wrestling program.[7]

Soccer career
Gene Kenney
Personal information
Full name Eugene Kenney
Date of birth (1928-05-08)May 8, 1928
Place of birth Urbana, Illinois, U.S.
Date of death June 14, 2022(2022-06-14) (aged 94)
Managerial career
Years Team
1950 North Carolina Tar Heels (assistant)
1956–1969 Michigan State Spartans

Following an illness to then-head coach Marvin Allen, Kenney took control of the Tar Heels soccer team to close out the 1950 season.[7] Following the season, Kenney was deployed to fight in the Korean War. While in Korea, Kenney served as a head coach for several service soccer teams in addition to being an Army officer.

Upon return from Korea, Kenney was hired by Michigan State University to initially coach the wrestling team and serve as a physical education teacher in the region.[7] In his spare time, Kenney also coached the club soccer team at Michigan State until it was upgraded to varsity status in 1956. When the program became a varsity program, MSU athletic director, Biggie Munn, named Kenney as the program's head coach.[8]

During Kenney's time coaching the Spartans, the program experienced the most success in their history. Kenney led the Spartans to 120-13-13 record and helped them claim two NCAA titles.[7][8]

Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Michigan State (Independent) (1956–1969)
1956 Michigan State 5–0–1
1957 Michigan State 6–0–2
1958 Michigan State 8–0–0
1959 Michigan State 7–2–0
1960 Michigan State 8–1–0
1961 Michigan State 8–1–0
1962 Michigan State 9–2–0
1963 Michigan State 9–1–0NCAA First Round
1964 Michigan State 10–1–2NCAA Runners-up
1965 Michigan State 10–2–0NCAA Runners-up
1966 Michigan State 10–2–0NCAA Semifinals
1967 Michigan State 12–0–2NCAA co-champions
1968 Michigan State 11–1–3NCAA co-champions
1969 Michigan State 7–2–1NCAA First Round
Michigan State: 120–13–13 (.866)
Total:120–13–13 (.866)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Administrative career

In 1970, Kenney became an athletic fellow for the school's athletic department until his retirement in 1994.

References
  1. "1971 Book English Edition: Soccer. Consultant: Gene Kenney. Demonstrators: George K. Janes [and] Rudy Mayer. [electronic resource]". National Library of Australia. Trove. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  2. Former Iconic MSU Soccer Coach Kenney Dies
  3. Kenney, Gene (June 1971). Soccer (Sports techniques) (Paperback). Chicago: Athletic Institute. ISBN 978-0876700433.
  4. Johnson, Ashley (October 28, 2005). "A Look At Gene Kenney". Michigan State Spartans. MSU Sports Information. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  5. "All-Time Letterwinners - Illinois Fighting Illini Football Record Book" (PDF). Illinois Fighting Illini football. Illinois Athletics. August 3, 2016. pp. 173–81. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  6. "All-Time Letterwinners - Wrestling". Illinois Fighting Illini. FightingIllini.com. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  7. Pearson, Mike (May 10, 2014). "Illini Legends, Lists and Lore: Gene Kenney". The News-Gazette. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  8. Jares, Joe (December 13, 1965). "Local Boys Make Very Good". Sports Illustrated Vault. Time, Inc. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
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