Olympic Gold Medalist Kenny Monday Joins The Blackzilians

BOCA RATON, Fla., April 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Glenn Robinson, manager and owner of the Blackzilians, today named Olympic Gold Medalist and Oklahoma State Wrestling coach Kenny Monday as the new head wrestling coach for the team. This is the latest of several announcements made by Robinson regarding the Blackzilians, including adding Pedro Diaz as the new boxing coach and Guillermo Rigondeaux as the team's first professional boxer.

"It is an honor and a privilege to announce that Kenny Monday is now a Blackzilian," said Robinson. "He is a legend! He brings world-class wrestling and so many other new facets to the team. He is without a doubt considered one of the best in the sport, and along with Henri Hooft, Jorge Santiago and Pedro Diaz, he will elevate the team to new levels. We have some of the best talent in fighting, from the athletes to the coaches, and now with the addition of Monday we are one change away from having the best coaching team in MMA. Change doesn't happen overnight; it takes place in small steps, and this is a significant step forward for the Blackzilians. Welcome to the team, Mr. Monday, we are thrilled to have you!"

"I am excited to join the Blackzilians and to work with Glenn Robinson on his vision for this team," said Monday. "MMA is still on the ground floor in sports. It is just starting to move into the mainstream, and I see exactly what Glenn is trying to do with this team. He is a smart businessman and a great leader, and he is making the changes necessary to realize his goals.  I am in this for the long haul and will be working with Glenn, Henri Hooft, Pedro Diaz and the other coaches to establish the Blackzilians' foundation. From there, we will begin building a world-class team and a championship tradition."

Most recently the Assistant Wrestling Coach at Oklahoma State University, Monday is a three-time Olympian in wrestling.  He earned the gold medal in wrestling (74 kg.) at the 1988 Games in Seoul, Korea, won the silver medal in wrestling (74 kg.) at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, and made the 1996 team, earning sixth place at the Olympics in Atlanta.

Monday also won the World Championships in wrestling (74 kg.) in 1989 in Switzerland. He is a five-time U.S. National Champion and a NCAA Division I Champion (150 lbs) from Oklahoma State.

He was assistant wrestling coach at Oklahoma State University from 1987 until 1992. It was during this time that he began coaching a talented new wrestler named Randy Couture. Couture had just finished his six-year military career and had enrolled at OSU as a student-athlete.  In 1992, Couture was selected as an Olympic Alternate for the Olympic wrestling team.

After five years at OSU, Monday ventured into other businesses and also coached youth and high school wrestling. In 2010, he returned to Oklahoma State as the team's assistant Wrestling Coach.

Now, Monday is transitioning from Oklahoma to Boca Raton to become the head wrestling coach for the Blackzilians.

The coaching staff of the Blackzilians is: Pedro Diaz (Boxing), Henri Hooft (Striking), Kenny Monday (Wrestling), Jorge Santiago (BJJ), Kamaru Usman (Wrestling), Roberto Flamingo (Striking) and Marcus Silva (Judo).

For more information about the Blackzilians, please visit Blackzilians.com and Follow @Blackzilians.

Press Contact:
Jen Wenk, APR
[email protected]
702.635.0995
@jenwenk

SOURCE Blackzilians