Born in Thomasville, North Carolina, Kanoy started wrestling in 1961 at Thomasville High where he was a standout in football and a state champion in wrestling. He attended North Carolina State University from 1964-68, playing football and wrestling at 177, 190, and HWT. Kanoy lettered in wrestling for the Wolfpack in 1967 and 1968 and was named to the All-ACC Academic Honor Roll Team in 1968.  Kanoy was head coach at Thomasville High from 1969 to 1983 where his teams achieved a dual meet record of 178-18-1. Kanoy’s Thomasville teams won nine conference championships going undefeated in conference action five times. In 1973, Kanoy's team captured the WNCHSAA State Tournament. He would continue his service to wrestling as an assistant coach at Ledford High for four years and at East Davidson High for 18 years.  While Kanoy was at East Davidson, the team won two 1A/2A State Dual Team Championships.  Starting in 1987, Kanoy served for over 20 years as a head scorer of the NCHSAA state wrestling tournament. Kanoy is a 2008 inductee into the Davidson County Sports Hall of Fame in addition to receiving the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award in 2007.