TJ Kerr
Courtesy: CSU Bakersfield Athletic Communications
Legendary CSU Bakersfield coach, TJ Kerr, has passed away.
Following 26 years at the helm of the Roadrunner wrestling program, T.J. Kerr announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2010 season. He turned the reigns over to longtime assistant, and alumni, Mike Mendoza, but remained a part of the program as the volunteer coach beginning in 2011.
With more than three decades as a collegiate head wrestling coach, simply mentioning the name T.J. Kerr will elicit an understanding that the long-time leader of the Bakersfield wrestling program is known nationally as a consistent producer of some of the top wrestlers in the nation. His work ethic was second-to-none, and the blue-collar attitude that he instilled into each of his wrestlers created an unparalleled atmosphere in CSUB’s wrestling room.
KERR’S HIGHLIGHTS
• 236-142-4 (.624) dual meet record in 26 years
• Pac-10 conference champions in 1996 and ’99
• 11 top-25 national finishes
• Five top-10 national finishes
• Third-place NCAA Division I finish in 1996
• 10 top-three finishes in the Pac-10 (20 years)
• 2007 Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year
• 1996 NWCA Coach of the Year
• Three-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year (1991, 1996, 1997)
• 1987 NCAA Division II team champions
• Three NCAA Division I champions
• Six NCAA Division II champions (3 seasons)
• 29 NCAA Division I All-Americans
• 17 NCAA Division II All-Americans (3 seasons)
• 29 Pac-10 champions
• 166 Pac-10 placewinners
• Five Olympians
• One world champion
• Five world championships qualifiers
• Three world championship placewinners
• Five USA National Freestyle champions
• One USA National Greco-Roman champion
• Three Pan-Am Games Freestyle champions
• One Pan-Am Games Greco-Roman champion
2 comments
R.I.P. Coach.
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