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Joe Kuhn
Head Men's Basketball Coach
Email:
jkuhn@jjc.edu
View Joe Kuhn's accomplishments
Joe Kuhn is entering his 15th season as head coach of men's basketball at Joliet Junior College. During that span he has amassed an overall record of 323-142. JJC has won at least 20 games in eight of the last nine seasons and ten times under Kuhn. Coach Kuhn, who has been named District Coach of the Year six times, has guided the Wolves to the national tournament six times (2011, 2010, 2008, 2005, 2004, 1998) and advanced to the national championship game three times (2010, 2008, 2005). Kuhn has coached twelve All-Americans, six N4C conference players of the year, and 27 all region players at JJC. The Wolves have played in the region championship game thirteen of his fourteen seasons, including twelve in a row, and have won six conference crowns (2011, 2010, 2008, 2004, 2003, 2001). Coach Kuhn is currently second on the career wins list behind A.A Fizz Wills.
The 2011 season was another eventful one at JJC in which the Wolves finished with a 30-5 record, won the N4C conference title, set a school record with 21 wins in a row, and qualified for the national tournament for the second year in a row. The Wolves captured the Region IV title with a 72-57 win over Madison College, making it the third in four years. JJC's bid for back to back national championships ended with a heartbreaking loss to Sullivan, 52-50.
Under the direction of Joe Kuhn, the Wolves claimed the 2010 NJCAA Division III National Championship in Delhi, NY with a 94-82 victory over Rochester Community Technical College. JJC used an explosive second half to capture the championship. Trailing 58-50 with 13:24 remaining in the game, the Wolves went on a 21-4 run to take control of the game. Lennell Pierce came off of the bench to lead JJC in scoring with 21 points, scoring 10 of his points in that run. Tournament MVP Brian Bradley tallied 19 and Jon Bartlett added 16. Kuhn was named the NJCAA Division III National Coach of the Year and Bradley National Player of the Year while Bartlett earned second team All-American honors. JJC advanced to the national tournament by defeating Milwaukee Area Technical College 84-70 to claim the Region IV crown. The Wolves, who won the N4C conference title, finished with a record of 30-5 which ties a school record previously set under Kuhn in the 2003-04 campaign.
JJC advanced to the national championship game two other times under Kuhn. The 2007-08 Wolves finished as the NJCAA national runner-up, falling to North Lake from Dallas, TX. in the championship game. The Wolves beat the College of DuPage in overtime to earn the Region IV championship and advance to the national tournament. In 2004-05, Kuhn and the Wolves advanced to the national championship game. JJC owned a one point lead late in the title game but a three pointer in the closing seconds by Hostos Community College (NY) finished the scoring. The Wolves had a chance to tie the game on a last second shot but it fell just short as they finished the season as the national runner-up, falling 73-71. JJC beat the College of DuPage in the Region IV championship 63-58 at Fizz Wills Gym, giving Kuhn his third region title. The Wolves eliminated Harper in the semi-finals.
Kuhn has guided the Wolves to the national tournament six times. The 2003-04 team qualified for the national tournament and finished with a 30-5 record. The Wolves set several school records, including wins in a season (30), 20 wins in a row, and an undefeated conference season. They won the Region IV championship with an amazing come from behind overtime win over Harper College. The Wolves, who trailed by 16 points with seven minutes left, put on a furious rally to claim the region championship to advance to the national tournament. JJC was rated as high as third in the NJCAA national polls. In his initial campaign as head coach (1997-98), Kuhn’s Wolves won 10 of their last 12 games to advance to the 1998 Division III national tournament in Delhi, N.Y. and finished third place overall. JJC defeated Rock Valley for the Region IV title and then Hazzard, KY in overtime to advance to the national tournament.
Joe Kuhn served as an assistant coach to Pat Klingler at JJC during the 1992-93 season. That year the Wolves advanced to the NJCAA Division II nationals in Delta, MI, finished with a mark of 30-6, and won the North Central Community College (N4C) championship.
Before accepting the coaching position at JJC, Kuhn was the head coach at Rich East High School for three seasons, 1994-96.
Kuhn was an assistant coach for Pat Sullivan at the University of St. Francis for two seasons (1990-92) before taking the assistant coaching position at JJC.
Prior to coaching at USF, Kuhn was a teacher and assistant coach for both basketball and baseball at Thornwood High School in South Holland, IL.
Kuhn is a 1981 graduate of Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills, IL. He was a two-sport athlete playing both basketball and baseball. He attended Prairie State College in Chicago Heights, IL where he played basketball.
Kuhn received his bachelor's degree in physical education from Chicago State University and earned his master degrees in curriculum and instruction from National-Louis University and educational leadership from American College of Education.
In addition to coaching the Wolves, Kuhn is currently a teacher at Rich East High School, where he has been teaching for the past 19 years. Kuhn resides in New Lenox with his wife Kathy and daughter Caitlin, 17.
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Keith Kinzler
Associate Head Men's Basketball Coach
Email: k.kinzler@comcast.net
Keith Kinzler, who is entering his fifteenth season as the top JJC assistant coach, has been instrumental in the Wolves success including their run to the 2010 Division III National Championship. Keith teamed up with Kuhn in May of 1997 and has played an important role in the success of the Wolves. Their relationship dates back to the 1992-93 season when Kinzler was a player and Kuhn was an assistant coach. Kinzler has helped lead the Wolves to the national championship game three times, five national tournament appearances, five Region IV championships, and five N4C conference crowns.
Kinzler played for JJC from 1991-93, is number two on the college’s all-time rebounding list with 861 boards in 70 games. That career total, which averages out to 12.3 rebounds per game, puts him second only to Sylvester Cottrell, who played for the Wolves from 1969-71. Kinzler is also second on the JJC all-time, single season list with 502 rebounds during the 1992-93 season (14.3 per game).
The 6-foot-9 Kinzler set a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II tournament record for rebounds in a game with 22 boards. One year later, Kinzler broke his own mark with 23 rebounds in a NJCAA Division II national tournament game. That record still stands today.
While a player with the Wolves, Kinzler helped Pat Klingler and company to a 55-17 record and a 1993 N4C championship. He scored 745 points throughout his career at JJC and earned All-N4C and All-Region honors during the 1992-93 season.
Following his time at JJC, Kinzler attended Morehead State University in Kentucky on a basketball scholarship. He played for the late Dick Fick. Keith is a 1990 graduate of Joliet Catholic Academy.
Kinzler, vice president of operations of Kinzler’s Janitorial Service, resides in Shorewood with his wife Tiffany and their three children, Kyle, 11, and Kailey, 10, and Khloe,1.
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Zach Pucel
Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
Zach Pucel is entering his sixth season on the JJC basketball staff. Pucel, who is a 1998 graduate of Minooka High School, and played for Joe Kuhn at JJC from 1999-2001. Pucel, who averaged 8 points and 8 rebounds a game, helped lead the 2001 Wolves to a 25-7 record and a N4C conference championship.
JJC is 131-37 during Zach's five seasons as an assistant, including two trips to the national championship game. The Wolves defeated Rochester for the 2010 crown and fell to North Lake in the 2008 title game. In his initial season as an assistant coach with JJC the Wolves finished 20-12 before falling in the region championship game.
Pucel earned a basketball scholarship to Michigan Tech where he majored in engineering and graduated in 2004. While at Michigan Tech, Pucel helped the Huskies to a 56-6 record in his two seasons, including back to back Great Lakes North conference championships. The 2002-03 team earned a school best 29-3 record and the number one ranking in the country at the NCAA Division II level.
Pucel, who resides in Shorewood, is currently employed by TranSystems Corporation of Schaumburg, IL, where he is a construction engineer. Zach is married to Sarah Ansted-Pucel, a former JJC cheerleader (2000-01).
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Erik Walton
Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
Erik Walton is entering his fifth season as an assistant coach at JJC. In his initial season, the Wolves advanced to the NJCAA national championship game, falling to North Lake, TX.. Erik assists with practices, recruiting and scouting.
Walton began his basketball career at Joliet Township High School. He played for the Steelmen from 1992 to 1996, being part of the teams that went to state championships in 1994 and 1995. Walton helped the Steelmen bring home the fourth place state trophy in 1995.
Walton began his college basketball career under Joliet Junior College's Joe Kuhn during Kuhn's first year as men's basketball coach. He played power forward and center during his two years at JJC. After returning to the team from an ACL injury, Walton became an integral part of the 1997-1998 men's basketball team that took third place at the NJCAA National Championships in Delhi, New York. Upon completion of his time at JJC, Walton went on to play for Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois.
Walton transferred to Aurora University to complete his bachelor's degree in history. During his time at AU, he was an assistant boy's basketball coach at Gompers Junior High. From there, he began work at Joliet Job Corps where he rebuilt the men's basketball program. Walton led his team to a third place finish in the Job Corps Region IV championship. During his time as a coach at Joliet Job Corps, his final record was 20-14.
Walton, who lives in Wilmington, is currently working for Cornerstone as a program director. Erik has a 16 year old daughter, Katie and a 14 year old son, William.
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