For a long time, a common theory in the world of sports has been that the best athletes typically don’t make the best coaches.

And for an equally wrong time, wrestling has existed as a major outlier to that supposition.

Be it Dan Gable, John Smith, Tom Brands or Cael Sanderson, the most prolific, title-winning coaches of the modern era were all Olympic champions as competitors.

A look across the sport today reveals countless other highly regarded coaches at prominent programs who won big on the NCAA and world stages, themselves.

There’s another all-time great competitor who’s leading a Division I program that resides off the Power Conference beaten path — three-time Olympian and 1988 gold medalist Kenny Monday, whose athletes at Morgan State University are benefiting from the tutelage of a man who lives by the mantra, “The more you give, the more you receive.”

Reviving A Program

When Kenny Monday was announced as Morgan State head coach in August of 2022, he took the reins of a program that hadn’t competed in 25 years.

The Baltimore-based, historically black university ceased men’s wrestling in 1997. And even upon its return, it remains the lone HBCU to offer Division I varsity wrestling.

“Every experience in my career has prepared me for this moment,” Monday said in a statement following his hiring. “And I can’t wait to get started.”

Almost three and a half years later, Monday, his athletes and the Bears program continue to make strides in their journey together.

“This is our third season and the guys that I started with as freshmen are juniors now,” said Monday, a three-time NCAA finalist (and 1984 NCAA champ) for Oklahoma State. “And so those kids are starting to really come on and understand how to compete at this level.

“It’s just the gaps are so big…(and) we’re not getting the top 10 kids coming out of high school in these first couple seasons, right?”

Monday cites not only technical/physical improvements but better understanding from his athletes as to the intricacies and challenges of the D1 level — and the sacrifices necessary to meet them.

“It’s also kind of like a reintroduction to the sport for the administration and people on campus,” he said. “So, that’s kind of been a battle, but it’s getting better every year. And I feel good about the direction we’re going now.”

'Find A Win'

The Bears may be 0-6 in duals to start the season following 2-19 and 5-13 records in the program’s first two years upon returning to varsity competition. However, progress (both tangible and below-the-surface) continues to be made.

“I’m big on finding wins — like in practice, talking about finding a win,” Monday said.

“Because sometimes you come into practice and your body may not perform for you that day, but you’ve got to go find a win. Whether you go jump rope for a thousand jumps or do some extra stance and motion or some pull ups — whatever it is, you’re going to go find a win.

“So, you just keep building on those wins and pretty soon you’re a winner, right?

“It’s just about finding wins, man — from the small wins to the big wins.”

A pair of Monday’s pupils are starting to see their behind-the-scenes efforts translate into both wins and wider recognition.

At 133 pounds, redshirt freshman Javaan Yarborough just broke into Flo’s national rankings. And at 149, fellow Ohioan Eugene Harney is right on the cusp (if not already ranked by some other publications) thanks to a 10-1 start.

Both are candidates to become Morgan State’s first NCAA qualifier since the return of the program.

(Senior heavyweight Xavier Doolin narrowly missed that honor last March — and, unfortunately, is likely out for the 2025-26 season due to injury.)

And while a high 20s/low 30s ranking may seem trivial to the established top programs/individuals, it can be invaluable at a place like Morgan State, given its nascent status.

“It’s a recognition for your hard work — to be ranked and be recognized. And so, you pay attention to it, (even if) the top guys really don’t,” Monday said. 

“For us, it’s important because it shows growth, it shows improvement, and it shows the opportunities that we have in front of us.

“It makes a difference for us as a new program to get into the rankings…People around the country recognize this — you’ve got a kid from Morgan State in the rankings.”

“That helps us in the big scheme of things… It makes a difference, and it excites everybody that is on campus.

'The More You Give, The More You Receive'

Why has Monday’s incredible athletic success translated into coaching other athletes toward their own goals?

Rather than credit his own characteristics, his first thought is back to a coaching idol he identified long before he won World/Olympic gold.

“I was exposed to Myron Roderick early in my life,” the Tulsa native said. 

Roderick — a fellow Oklahoma State alum — was a three-time NCAA champion and 1956 Olympian before taking over the Cowboys program at the age of 23. He ultimately produced seven NCAA team titles in 13 seasons.

“I got his autograph when I was probably seven, eight years old, and watched how he coached the great teams from Oklahoma State,” Monday said. “Just watching these programs growing up really kind of taught me a lot about the sport and how to navigate it,  how to learn.

“I was just exposed to greatness early — just being able to watch the ’72 Olympics and (Dan) Gable and Chris Taylor and Bobby Douglas.

“I was always the kind of kid that paid attention to how the athletes related to their coaches…I had a really rich experience and knowledge of the sport of wrestling that opened my eyes to a lot of different things.”

Monday rattles off coach after coach from every step of his career, each of whom he learned from, whether they were working directly with him or not.

And even though the college wrestling landscape — be it the transfer portal, NIL or otherwise —  is dramatically different than the one he and his idols grew up in, the 64-year-old remains steadfast in the belief that his accumulated knowledge and experience can be as valuable to today’s athletes as they were when first passed from his mentors to him.

“My life experience has prepared me for the moment,” Monday said.

“There’s still some things that you don’t anticipate that happen, but I just love the fact that I can give.

“I’ve always known — as a nod to my parents — the more you give, the more you receive. And so, I’ve always been one that was willing to give back to the sport of wrestling.

“Because it’s been so rich and so good for me in my life — taking me all over the world and having the experience of being the Olympic champion and then being able to have that platform to teach and share my knowledge with these young kids.

“It’s just been a blessing.”