Ken Kraft
June 28, 1935 - October 27, 2020
He built Northwestern University wrestling into a viable national program and kept the Wildcats among the elite throughout his 22 years at the helm, but Ken Kraft's primary contribution to the sport was the creation of the Midlands Championships, king of open tournaments.
Kraft became head coach at Northwestern in 1957, at the age of 22, after a Wildcat wrestling career that included a Big Ten title and his school's Medal of Honor. He remains active on the Northwestern scene 40 years later as senior associate athletic director.
In 1960, he coached his brother Art to the NCAA championship, a feat unmatched for 34 years. Art Kraft went on to become one of the nation's outstanding junior college coaches. Ken produced another national champion in Mark Massery and coached 11 conference champs and 14 All-Americans.
He left an indelible mark on the sport in 1963, when he founded the Midlands, a tournament destined to become America's favorite holiday wrestling event. Over three and a half decades, it has attracted almost every noteworthy American wrestler.
Part of the organizing committee of USA Wrestling, Kraft served on its board of directors from 1965 to 1980, with two terms as president. In 1976, he presided over the dedication of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and was USA Wrestling Man of the Year. Kraft also helped found the Mayor Daley Youth Foundation wrestling program, now the Wildcat Wrestling Club.
In 1970, he directed the NCAA Championships at Northwestern. He was USA team leader to the 1971 World Championships. Kraft has written numerous articles, an instructional text, Mastering Wrestling, and has been a television commentator for NCAA meets and two Olympics.
For his lasting contribution to the advancement of wrestling on many levels, Ken Kraft is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Awards:
Year
2011
|
Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
|
Chapter/Region
Illinois
|
Year
1997
|
Award
Distinguished Member
|
Chapter/Region
National
|
Year
1995
|
Award
Order of Merit
|
Chapter/Region
National
|
All Coaching Dual Records:
Season
1979
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
10
|
Wins
2
|
Losses
8
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
20
|
Season
1978
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
12
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
50
|
Season
1977
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
0
|
Wins
0
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
0
|
Season
1976
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
14
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
50
|
Season
1975
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
12
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
50
|
Season
1974
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
12
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
58.33
|
Season
1973
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
8
|
Wins
3
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
37.5
|
Season
1972
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
12
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
50
|
Season
1971
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
11
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
81.82
|
Season
1970
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
12
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
58.33
|
Season
1969
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
16
|
Wins
11
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
68.75
|
Season
1968
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
13
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
69.23
|
Season
1967
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
8
|
Wins
5
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
62.5
|
Season
1966
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
8
|
Wins
3
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
37.5
|
Season
1965
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
9
|
Wins
5
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
55.56
|
Season
1964
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
11
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
81.82
|
Season
1963
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
10
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
60
|
Season
1962
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division |
Duals
10
|
Wins
3
|
Losses
7
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
30
|
Season
1961
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division |
Duals
10
|
Wins
4
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
40
|
Season
1960
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division |
Duals
10
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
2
|
Win PCT.
60
|
Season
1959
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division |
Duals
10
|
Wins
2
|
Losses
8
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
20
|
Season
1958
|
School
Northwestern
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
1
|
Losses
7
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
12.5
|
Season
Career
|
Duals
226
|
Wins
117
|
Losses
104
|
Ties
5
|
Win PCT.
51.77
|
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