Wrestling's Jim Andrassy announced retirement after 35 seasons at Kent State
5/1/2025 10:28:00 AM | Wrestling
KENT, Ohio –– Kent State wrestling head coach Jim Andrassy announced on Thursday, May 1, 2025, that he is retiring after 35 seasons with the Golden Flashes and 22 seasons as the head coach.
"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!!" said head coach Jim Andrassy. "I would like to thank Laing Kennedy and Cathy O'Donnell for believing in me and allowing to execute my visions.
"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. Lastly, I'd like to thank my wife, Nannette, for allowing me to follow my passion and supporting me 100%, unconditionally."
"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. "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."
Coach Andrassy began his Golden Flashes career as a student-athlete in 1990 and posted a career record of 106-25-1. He is one of just two Kent State wrestlers to reach 100 victories in only four seasons. He was 26-6 his junior season en route to a MAC championship at 158 pounds and finished 27-7 as a senior, earning one of the MAC's wildcard bids to the NCAA Championships. At the national meet, he won two of his four matches and finished one victory away from All-America status.
Following his playing career, Andrassy joined the Kent State wrestling staff as a student assistant for one year while finishing his degree. He then spent another year as a volunteer coach and a third as a graduate assistant before being promoted to full-time in 1997.
Andrassy took over the helm in 2003 and led the Golden Flashes to 203 team wins in 22 seasons, the third most in program history. Andrassy also led the Flashes to 11 winning seasons, ten NCAA Championship appearances, six top 25 finishes, and three MAC Regular Season Championships (2009, 11, 12). The Flashes' best finish under Andrassy came in 2016 when they finished 15-3 and 16th in the NCAA Championships. Andrassy also led the Flashes to a top 25 finish in 2009 (T-18th), 2010 (25th), 2011 (17th), 2013 (24th), and 2018 (T-22nd). Andrassy was also named the MAC Coach of the Year in 2009.
Andrassy was one of the best in recruiting and developing talent in Flashes' history after recruiting a top 10 ranked class in 2007 and a top 20 class in 2008. The individual's 100-win list grew from four to 18 under Andrassy's leadership, including the top five all-time winners. The Flashes' have earned 102 Academic All-MAC selections, 78 national qualifiers, 37 NWCA Scholar All-Americans, 23 individual MAC Champions, 13 All-Americans, four Freshman All-Americans, four MAC Wrestler of the Year, four MAC Freshman of the Year, three MAC Tournament Outstanding Wrestlers, one National Champion, and one member of the USA National Team.
"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!!" said Andrassy. "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!!"
Team Accomplishments
NCAA Championships Appearances
• 2008-09 | T-18th
• 2009-10 | 25th
• 2010-11 | 17th
• 2011-12 | 27th
• 2012-13 | 24th
• 2013-14 | T-29th
• 2014-15 | 26th
• 2015-16 | 16th
• 2018-19 | T-22nd
• 2020-21 | 44th
MAC Championships
• 2009 | 13-4, 5-0
• 2011 | 14-6, 4-1
• 2012 | 14-5, 5-0
Individual Accomplishments
100-Victory Club
• Dustin Kilgore, 178 | 2007-13
• Danny Mitcheff, 131 | 2005-10
• Ian Miller, 128 | 2011-16
• Tyler Small, 128 | 2010-15
• Alex Camargo, 126 | 2001-06
• Jermail Porter, 119 | 2004-09
• Casey Newburg, 119 | 2008-13
• Nic Bedelyon, 113 | 2007-12
• Brendan Barlow, 112 | 2007-12
• Tim Rooney, 112 | 2015-20
• Mack McGuire, 109 | 2012-16
• Eric Chine, 108 | 2004-09
• Kurt Gross, 107 | 2003-08
• Casey Sparkman, 102 | 2014-18
All-Americans (alphabetical order)
• Nic Bedelyon | 2009, 2012
• Kyle Conel | 2018
• Mike DePalma | 2016
• Dustin Kilgore | 2010, 2011, 2013
• Ian Miller | 2014, 2015, 2016
• Danny Mitcheff | 2010
• Jermail Porter | 2009
• Tim Rooney | 2020
MAC Champions (alphabetical order)
• Brandon Barlow | 2010
• Nic Bedelyon | 2008, 2011
• Alex Camargo | 2007
• Mike DePalma | 2016
• Kurt Gross | 2006, 2007
• Dustin Kilgore | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
• Kody Komara | 2022
• Drew Lashaway | 2009
• Andrew McNally | 2021
• Ian Miller | 2012, 2014, 2015
• Danny Mitcheff | 2009, 2010
• Jermail Porter | 2009
• Tim Rooney | 2020
• Tyler Small | 2012
• Keith Witt | 2012
MAC Wrestler of the Year (alphabetical order)
• Dustin Kilgore | 2011, 2013
• Danny Mitcheff | 2010
• Jermail Porter | 2009
MAC Tournament Outstanding Wrestler (alphabetical order)
• Dustin Kilgore | 2013
• Danny Mitcheff | 2009, 2010
MAC Freshman of the Year
• Jermail Porter | 2006
• Nicholas Bedelyon | 2008
• Dustin Kilgore | 2009
• Ian Miller | 2012
Freshman All-American
• Kurt Gross | 2005
• Jermail Porter | 2006
• Dustin Kilgore | 2009
• Kyle Conel | 2016
National Qualifier (alphabetical order)
• Jason Bake | 2006
• Brendan Barlow | 2010, 2011, 2012
• Nic Bedelyon | 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
• Tyler Buckwalter | 2016
• Alex Camargo | 2005, 2006
• Matt Cathell | 2011
• Eric Chine | 2009
• Kyle Conel | 2016, 2018
• Michael Depalma | 2014, 2015, 2016
• Jake Ferri | 2021, 2023
• Kurt Gross | 2006, 2007, 2008
• Dustin Kilgore | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
• Kody Komara | 2021, 2022
• Drew Lashaway | 2008, 2009
• Mimmo Lytle | 2015
• Caleb Marsh | 2013, 2014
• Colin McCrakin | 2021, 2022
• Jay McGee | 2007
• Mackenzie McGuire | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
• Andrew McNally | 2019, 2020, 2021
• Aaron Miller | 2006
• Ian Miller | 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016
• Dan Mitcheff | 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
• Steve Mitcheff | 2013
• Nick Nemeth | 2003
• Casey Newburg | 2012, 2013
• Drew Opfer | 2004
• Jared Opfer | 2003
• Jermail Porter | 2007, 2008, 2009
• Tomas Rodriguez | 2003
• Tim Rooney | 2019, 2020
• Mallie Shuster | 2012
• Tyler Small | 2011, 2012, 2015
• Casey Sparkman | 2017, 2018
• Chad Sportelli | 2006, 2007
• Stephen Suglio | 2018
• Ross Tice | 2010, 2011
• Anthony Tutolo | 2017, 2018
• Sam Wheeler | 2013
• Keith Witt | 2010, 2012
National Champion
• Dustin Kilgore | 2011
MAC Coach of the Year
• 2009
A national search to find the next head coach will begin immediately.
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