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

Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations