Kent State wrestling coach Jim Andrassy has led the program and the school to the biggest stages in wrestling multiple times in his illustrious 35-year career with the team.
He has coached 14 wrestlers to over 100 career wins while providing the program with 23 Mid-American Conference Champions, 13 All-American Selections, four Freshman All-Americans, four MAC Wrestlers of the Year, four MAC Freshman of the Year awards, one national champion and one of his wrestlers even made it as a member of the USA national team.
On a team scale, Andrassy pushed Kent State to the NCAA Championships 10 times, including a stretch of eight consecutive years from 2008-2015. Also, Andrassy and the Flashes won three MAC Championships.
In 2009, a year where the team won the MAC and finished 25th in the nation, Andrassy was also honored with the MAC Coach of the Year award.
On Thursday, May 1, Andrassy announced his retirement, putting a pin on his career and solidifying himself as one of the most prolific wrestling coaches in the program’s history.
“I’d also like to thank Randale Richmond for his support and for giving me the ability to decide when it was time for me to step down to continue working with the sport I’ve known and loved my entire life,” Andrassy said in a statement. “Lastly, I’d like to thank my wife, Nannette, for allowing me to follow my passion and supporting me 100%, unconditionally.”
Andrassy is third in program history in total wins as a coach, as he went for 203 wins in 22 years as head coach.
The best seasons in terms of record came in the 2006 and 2015 seasons when the team finished 15-3.
“For 35 years, Jim Andrassy has embodied the true spirit of our university, first as a dedicated student-athlete, then as an assistant coach, and finally through 22 seasons as our head wrestling coach,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Randale L. Richmond in a statement. “His commitment to excellence built champions on the mat and shaped generations of young men into leaders of tomorrow. As he steps away from the program he helped build, we extend our deepest gratitude for his decades of service and indelible mark on our athletic department and university community. Coach Andrassy’s influence will continue to resonate in our wrestling program for years to come as he plans to continue supporting the program in a variety of new ways.”
Andrassy’s ties to Kent State date long before he assumed the position of head coach of the team.
His journey begins for him in his college days, where he wrestled for the Flashes in 1990. In his first four seasons, he went 106-25-1 while wrestling in the 158-pound weight class. He earned a MAC Championship title in his junior season as well.
For a few years after his playing career, Andrassy jumped around the program before finding some stability. In the three years from his playing days to becoming an assistant, he was a student assistant, a volunteer coach and also a graduate assistant.
He was in that role from 1997 until 2003, which is when he became the full head coach of the team.
“I’m incredibly thankful to Kent State University for taking a chance on me as a young head coach so many years ago, it’s been an honor for me to spend my entire adult life at the same institution,” Andrassy said. “I would like to thank Laing Kennedy and Cathy O’Donnell for believing in me and allowing me to execute my visions.”
With Andrassy’s retirement, the wrestling program will begin a national search for a new coach of the team immediately.
“Words cannot even begin to tell you what Kent State has done for me, and my entire family, most of whom have graduated from KSU,” Andrassy said. “I’m sure my father, my biggest fan, is looking down, smiling at it all. To all the wrestlers, administrators, support staff, family and friends of Kent State wrestling, I thank each one of you for helping me with this program and the journey! It’s not the end, just the beginning of a different journey! I love you all.”
John Hilber is sports editor. Contact him at [email protected].