T.J. Kerr

T.J. Kerr, wrestling coach, 1973-84

T.J. Kerr came to San Jose State as a wrestler and became the Spartans’ wrestling coach a year after he graduated in 1972. Kerr built a West Coast powerhouse in his 12 seasons as the San Jose State head coach. The Spartans won 10 conference championships, sent wrestlers to the NCAA Championships eight times and placed in the top-25 on four occasions. The 1982 team was ninth the best finish by the Spartans at a NCAA Wrestling Championship.

Seven times, he was named the Pacific Coast Athletic Association Coach of the Year. The Spartans averaged more than 15 dual meet wins a season, captured 50 individual conference titles, and earned All-America recognition five times.

Kerr has been the head coach at Cal State Bakersfield since 1984. Cal State Bakersfield won the 1987 NCAA Division II championship and has placed in the top-10 at the NCAA Division I Championship four times. He is a three-time Pac-10 Conference Coach of the Year.

The California Wrestling Hall of Fame member was the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s 1996 National Coach of the Year. He was the association’s president from 1993 through 1996 and served as the organization’s spokesman before Congress on issues connected with the implementation of Title IX.