Kevin Jackson, the longtime coach of the U.S. national freestyle team, has stepped down from his postition to take a job with Sunkist Kids. Zeke Jones, an Olympic silver medalist and most recently, head coach at Penn, was hired to take over KJ’s position. I have just one thing to say about that – thank goodness!
The U.S. won one medal in freestyle at the Olympics this year. Granted, it was a gold one from Henry Cejudo, but one medal is not enough. Not for a country that had been so dominant in the sport. I’m not placing blame on Jackson’s shoulders — he’s a great man and a great coach — but new blood will be good for the program.
Zeke is well known for turning programs back into contenders. He did it for West Virginia and then Penn. I have full faith that he will make the changes needed to make sure that the U.S. can compete with the Eastern European wrestling juggernaut.
