Kenny Rucker

Class of 2016

Harvey (Thornton)

Kenny Rucker’s wrestling career at Harvey Thornton culminated with a 35-0 record and as an IHSA State Champion at 185 lbs. in 1985. He was also named as an All-American High School wrestler and Thornton’s most valuable wrestler in 1984. Kenny was also an All-Conference football player in 1984.

He continued his wrestling career at North Idaho College, where he was a 2-time NJCAA All-American and two-time National Champion at 177 lbs. His North Idaho team was the NJCAA National champions in 1985 and 1986. Kenny was a member of the 1985 Junior Pan-American Wrestling team. In 1985 Kenny was named the Idaho State Male Athlete of the year. After matriculating to Montana State University-Northern in Havre, MT, he was a 2-time NAIA All-American and the National Champion at 177 lbs. in 1989. Kenny finished second at 177 lbs. in the NAIA National Wrestling Tournament in 1990. He received his B.S. in Secondary Education in PE and Health in 1992. Kenny participated in the U.S. National Wrestling Championships in 1996.

After graduation, Kenny was an assistant wrestling coach at C. M. Russel high school in Great Falls Montana from 1994-2002. From 1996-2002 Kenny was a teacher at the Cascade County Juvenile Detention Center in Great Falls, Montana. Since 2002, Kenny has been the head wrestling coach and Special Education Teacher at Klein Collins High school in Spring Texas.

Kenny Rucker is a member of the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the Texas High School Wrestling Coaches Association, the Texas High School Coaches Association and the Texas American Federation of Teachers. Kenny is a Bronze Level Certified coach for USA Wrestling.

Kenny Rucker has been inducted into the North Idaho Hall of Fame in 2009 and the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2014. He has been nominated as a “Coach That Makes a Difference”. Kenny appeared on the cover of USA Wrestling Magazine May 1, 1986 Issue.