SIUE

Kegan Calkins has been named the Recruiting Coordinator for the SIUE wrestling program in August 2024.

A former assistant coach at Aurora University, Calkins helped create the program and recruits its first two incoming classes.

Calkins was a graduate assistant coach at the University of the Cumberlands for two seasons, helping lead the program to a fourth-place national finish in 2019 and back-to-back NAIA top 10 national finishes. While at the University of the Cumberlands, the team produced six All-Americans, a national champion, and Greco-Roman junior world team member

His coaching experience has been at multiple levels. As the coach for the Jamaican Wrestling Federation, he has aided multiple wrestlers to international medals at the World Championships, the Pan-American Games and the Caribbean Games.

Calkins was a three-year starter for Oregon State under Coach Jim Zaleski. He recorded 44 collegiate victories and was a U.S. Open All-American in Greco-Roman as a senior.

Calkins was a two-time Illinois state qualifier and state champion in 2014 at Montini Catholic High School. He was also Greco-Roman All-American after placing fifth and second at the national championships. He is working on his master's degree in nutrition and dietetics at SIUE.