Kerry McCoy

August 02, 1974 - Present

Kerry McCoy excelled at heavyweight during arguably the greatest era of big men, consistently beating the best wrestlers in the world—both at home and abroad.

After going 19-17 at 190 pounds in his first 36 matches representing Penn State University, McCoy spent the rest of his collegiate career at heavyweight, where he would suffer only one loss in 136 matches.

As a sophomore, McCoy won the 1994 NCAA tournament with a season record of 47-0. As a junior, he rode an 88-match win streak into the semifinals of the 1995 NCAA tournament where he suffered his only defeat, eventually taking third place.

In 1996, Penn State’s standout heavyweight redshirted to focus on freestyle wrestling. During the finals of the 1996 U.S. Open, he took eventual Olympic champion Kurt Angle to the wire, but dropped a 0-0 referees’ decision. He went on to finish third at the Olympic Trials.

McCoy returned to collegiate wrestling with a vengeance. He compiled a 41-0 record and won the 1997 NCAA tournament over arguably the deepest heavyweight class in college wrestling history. His bracket included an eventual World champion, an eventual World bronze medalist, and a 1996 Greco-Roman Olympian, along with several other multi-time All-Americans. He finished his collegiate career with two NCAA championships, three Big 10 titles, and a career record of 150-18.

Internationally, McCoy was just as successful. He won five straight U.S. Open freestyle championships from 2000 - 2004 and was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the 2003 Pan American Games. He earned a silver medal at the 2003 World Championships in New York and represented the U.S. twice at the Olympics, placing fifth in 2000 and seventh in 2004.

On May 12, 2008, McCoy became the head wrestling coach at the University of Maryland after spending three seasons at Stanford in the same position.

In recognition of a remarkable collegiate and international wrestling career, Kerry McCoy is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Awards:

Year
2020
Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
Chapter/Region
New York - Downstate
Year
2014
Award
Distinguished Member
Chapter/Region
National

All American Awards:

Season
1997
School
Penn State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
275
Place
1
Season
1995
School
Penn State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
275
Place
3
Season
1994
School
Penn State
Tournament
Division I
Weight
275
Place
1

College Season Records:

Season
1997
School
Penn State
Class
Senior
Bouts
41
Wins
41
Losses
0
Ties
0
Falls
11
Win PCT.
100
Place
1st
Season
1995
School
Penn State
Class
Junior
Bouts
44
Wins
43
Losses
1
Ties
0
Falls
9
Win PCT.
97.73
Place
3rd
Season
1994
School
Penn State
Class
Sophomore
Bouts
47
Wins
47
Losses
0
Ties
0
Falls
11
Win PCT.
100
Place
1st
Season
1993
School
Penn State
Class
Freshman
Bouts
36
Wins
19
Losses
17
Ties
0
Falls
3
Win PCT.
52.78
Place
DNP
Season
Career
Bouts
168
Wins
150
Losses
18
Ties
0
Falls
34
Win PCT.
89.29

All Coaching Dual Records:

Season
2011
School
Maryland
Division
Division I
Duals
20
Wins
16
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
80
Season
2010
School
Maryland
Division
Division I
Duals
23
Wins
19
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
82.61
Season
2009
School
Maryland
Division
Division I
Duals
19
Wins
10
Losses
8
Ties
1
Win PCT.
52.63
Season
2008
School
Stanford
Division
Division I
Duals
17
Wins
13
Losses
4
Ties
0
Win PCT.
76.47
Season
2007
School
Stanford
Division
Division I
Duals
16
Wins
8
Losses
8
Ties
0
Win PCT.
50
Season
2006
School
Stanford
Division
Division I
Duals
13
Wins
7
Losses
6
Ties
0
Win PCT.
53.85
Season
Career
Duals
108
Wins
73
Losses
34
Ties
1
Win PCT.
67.59

All Rankings:

Season
1997
Rank Date
03/20/1997
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1997
Rank Date
03/07/1997
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1997
Rank Date
02/24/1997
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1997
Rank Date
02/10/1997
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1997
Rank Date
01/11/1997
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1997
Rank Date
11/07/1996
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1995
Rank Date
02/27/1995
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1995
Rank Date
03/17/1995
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1995
Rank Date
03/06/1995
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1995
Rank Date
02/09/1995
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1995
Rank Date
01/23/1995
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1995
Rank Date
12/19/1994
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1995
Rank Date
11/21/1994
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1994
Rank Date
02/03/1994
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1994
Rank Date
03/17/1994
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1994
Rank Date
03/07/1994
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State
Season
1994
Rank Date
02/21/1994
Weight
275
Rank
1
School
Penn State

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