Gene Kenney

Eugene Kenney (May 15, 1928 – June 14, 2022 ) 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.

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. Kenney never played a competitive game while part of the football team. Kenney was a four-year player in high school football for the Urbana Tigers varsity football team. Upon graduation in 1950, Kenney became an assistant coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels wrestling program.

Soccer career

Following an illness to then-head coach Marvin Allen, Kenney took control of the Tar Heels soccer team to close out the 1950 season.

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.

Head coaching record

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