Bryan Kenney was named the inaugural head coach of Northeastern State University’s women’s wrestling program, marking a historic milestone as the first NCAA women’s wrestling program in the state of Oklahoma. With competition set to begin in Fall 2026, Kenney is charged with building the RiverHawks into a national contender from day one.
Kenney brings extensive coaching experience and a championship-driven mindset to Tahlequah. He currently leads the men’s wrestling program at Northern Oklahoma College, where he successfully restarted the program in 2024. In its first season back, NOC qualified multiple wrestlers for the NJCAA National Tournament, with continued growth positioning the program among the nation’s rising competitors. He also serves as assistant coach for the women’s program, which earned an 11th-place national finish and currently holds a top-10 national ranking.
Prior to his collegiate work, Kenney built a highly successful career at the high school level in Texas, leading the wrestling programs at JJ Pearce and Plano East High School. Across his career, he has accumulated more than 250 dual-meet victories as a head coach and is widely respected for his ability to develop athletes at every stage of their careers.
A USA Wrestling Gold Certified Coach, Kenney’s influence extends to the national and international stages. His experience includes serving as Head Greco-Roman/Assistant Freestyle coach for the 2019 15U Pan American Games team, Assistant Beach Coach for the 2026 U20 Beach World Championships, and coaching at the Olympic Training Center Developmental Camp. He has also contributed as a National Facilitator for USA Wrestling’s Greco-Roman Innovation Team (GRIT) and served five years as a Junior Duals coach for Team Texas.
In addition to his team leadership roles, Kenney founded the Power Training Wrestling Center in 2021, where he serves as director and co-head coach, further demonstrating his commitment to athlete development and community impact.
Kenney earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance and Marketing from Illinois State University and later completed his Master of Education in Administration from Lamar University.
As he launches Oklahoma’s first NCAA women’s wrestling program, Kenney is focused on building a culture that reflects RiverHawk pride — on the mat, in the classroom and throughout the community.
