Gene Kenney
Gene Kenney | |
|---|---|
| Born | Eugene Kenney May 28, 1928 Urbana, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | June 14, 2022 (aged 94) |
| Occupation(s) | Soccer coach, athletics administration |
| Years active | 1956–1994 |
| Known for | Michigan State Spartans men's soccer coach, led team to 2 national championships |
| Notable work | Published book Soccer: Sports Techniques |
Eugene Kenney (May 15, 1928 – June 14, 2022) was an American wrestler, football player and soccer coach, who is best known as being the first head coach of the Michigan State Spartans men's soccer team. Kenney coached the Spartans from 1956 until 1969, where he led the Spartans to two NCAA co-championships in 1967 and 1968. Following his retirement from coaching, Kenney worked as an athletic administrator for the Michigan State athletics program from 1970 until his retirement in 1994. During his tenure in the school's athletics department, he published Soccer: Sports Techniques a book about philosophies and team strategies to approach the sport.