1988 Olympic Gold Medalist and Wrestling Hall of Famer Kenny Monday joins Coach Tony Ersland and the guys this week to discuss his life in wrestling, his Olympic journey and what led him to coaching. Monday, a three-time Olympian and two-time Olympic finalist, was also a three-time NCAA finalist, winning the 1984 title at 150 lbs. He is currently the head wrestling coach at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
Show Notes
The Always Aggressive Podcast welcomed one of its most distinguished guests in the show’s history this week, hosting 1988 Olympic gold medalist Kenny Monday. In the tail end of his first year as the head wrestling coach at SPIRE Academy, Monday talks with the guys about his background in wrestling, his career path to SPIRE and some of his highlights not only as a wrestler himself, but also as a wrestling father.
A three-time Olympian and member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Monday hails from Tulsa, Oklahoma and competed collegiately for Oklahoma State University. A three-time NCAA finalist and 1984 national champion, he transitioned into freestyle where he won both Olympic and World gold.
His coaching career took him from Oklahoma State, to youth and high school club wrestling in Texas, to the mixed martial arts scene, in addition to a stop with the Tar Heel Wrestling Club in North Carolina before heading to SPIRE.
Monday also weighed in on being the parent of two NCAA Division I wrestlers in his sons Kennedy and Quincy Monday. He has coached both of them on the mat, both as children and Kennedy some at North Carolina, but has also experienced just watching from the stands.
The Boilermakers will be out to Geneva, Ohio this summer to visit Monday as the SPIRE Academy will play host to the U23 World Team Trials in June.
0:00 – Welcome Kenny Monday, Beginnings of Wrestling
7:05 – Monday to Oklahoma State
10:15 – Transitioning to Freestyle
28:25 – Stint in MMA, How Monday got to SPIRE
35:40 – Being a Wrestling Father
45:45 – Coming Full Circle