The only head coach in Belmont Abbey wrestling history, Kenn Caudell begins his 17th season guiding the Crusaders' program. Prior to moving to Belmont, he spent three years as an assistant coach at Mount Union in Ohio.
During his tenure at Belmont Abbey, Caudell has moved the program towards the top of the Southeast Region and South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Wrestling League. Mitch Dean earned All-America honors last year, winning the region and placing sixth at nationals.
Caudell started the Abbey program in 2005 and has coached two All-Americans as well as seven NCAA National qualifiers. Chris Neidermeier, the first All-American in the program's history, fell just two wins shy of claiming the national championship in 2007 in the 125-pound class.In 2011, a school-record three athletes qualified for the NCAANationals.Caudell has also coached two other national qualifiers(Adam Phillips-2009) and Jake Varilek (2010). Off the mat, Caudell has coached three athletes who earned Academic All-America honors in Phil Bliss, Reimark Neidermeier and Tim Stanton.
While at Mount Union, his wrestlers enjoyed success both on the mat and in the classroom. Previously, he spent a year as an assistant at Duquesne, where he helped three athletes to Division I national qualifiers
Qualifiers.
A native of Oxford, Pennsylvania, Caudell wrestled at Division I Slippery Rock, starting all four years. He placed three times in the very tough Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference as well as the Division I Eastern Region.
He graduated in 2000 with adegree in Literature. He also holds an Ohio Teacher Certification and is currently working on his masters in Sport Psychology. Kenn and his wife Jennifer have two daughters.
Updated 8/30/21
