Scott E. Kennell appointed as director of athletics
Published 07.11.2022
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Following a national search, Scott E. Kennell is returning to Pennsylvania College of Technology as its director of athletics, it was announced Monday.
Kennell will be responsible for the management and development of Penn College's 16 intercollegiate programs effective July 18.
"We are excited to welcome Scott back to Penn College and to Williamsport. He quickly rose to the top of a very strong nationwide candidate pool," said Elliott Strickland, vice president for student affairs. "Scott brings years of experience as a successful student-athlete, coach and administrator within the NCAA.
"We are excited that Scott will lead Wildcat Athletics into a new era."
Kennell spent the previous six years as director of athletics at Madonna University, an NAIA institution outside of Detroit. During Kennell's tenure, Madonna reached new heights, including two national championship teams and a pair of national runners-up. The Crusaders finished in the top 100 of the Learfield Cup standings six times – including a 26th-place finish.
Kennell, who was named Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference AD of the Year in 2018, added three sports programs (football, cheer and dance), developed the student-athlete advisory committee, kick-started the Crusader Club, increased staffing, and oversaw several renovations projects. Madonna student-athletes averaged above a 3.0 GPA and completed an average of 2,000 hours of community service in each of Kennell's years guiding the department.
"I'm excited to be back at Penn College. It's a great institution with a fantastic Athletics Department – one that can be built into an illustrious Division III program," Kennell said. "I'm looking forward to working with the staff, coaches, faculty and other colleagues to create opportunities for our student-athletes to succeed academically, athletically and individually.
"I want to thank former President Dr. (Davie Jane) Gilmour, current President Dr. (Michael J.) Reed, Mr. Strickland, and the search committee for trusting me once again to lead this department. I also want to thank (interim directors) Matt Blymier and Britni Mohney for overseeing the department the past year and continuing the proud tradition of Wildcat Athletics."
Kennell served as Penn College's director of athletics from 2011-16 and helped guide the institution's acceptance into the NCAA's Division III and as members of the North Eastern Athletic Conference. Also during that time, six coaching positions were elevated from part time to full time, an athletics-specific website was launched, an Athletics Hall of Fame was established, the number of recruited student-athletes was significantly increased, and many of the college's athletics facilities and policies were enhanced.
Prior to joining the NCAA, Penn College captured the prestigious Penn State University Athletic Conference Chancellor's Cup twice during Kennell's tenure, which is awarded to the member school with the highest number of points based on the finish of each conference team. Kennell was inducted into the Penn College Hall of Fame in 2021.
Prior to his appointment at Penn College, Kennell served as director of athletics at Lycoming College from 2008-11. The Warriors saw success during that time, including three conference championships, two national tournament berths and one national champion in wrestling. In addition, the department had more than 200 Mid-Atlantic Conference Academic Honor Roll selections and five All-Americans.
In addition to overseeing Lycoming's 17 sports, Kennell also served as the head men's soccer coach, a position he began in 2000. He left Lycoming as the winningest coach in program history with a 110-87-12 (.541 winning percentage) record and took his program to five Commonwealth Conference playoff berths while also earning a MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year award.
Kennell graduated from North Carolina Wesleyan College in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. After a standout career as a men's soccer student-athlete at North Carolina Wesleyan, Kennell was drafted by the EISL Savannah Rugratz as the eighth overall pick. From 1998-99, he played with the United Soccer League's Eastern Shore Sharks.
Kennell's efforts as a player earned him entrance into the North Carolina Wesleyan College Athletic Hall of Fame. The Perry Hall, Maryland, native has also been inducted into the Perry Hall High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Perry Hall High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame. In 2013, Kennell was named to the USA South Athletic Conference 50th Anniversary Men's Soccer Team.
Thirteen of Penn College's 16 intercollegiate athletic teams participate in the United East Conference: men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross-country, women's volleyball, men's golf, baseball, men's lacrosse, and softball.
The wrestling team competes in the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference, men's and women's archery competes in USA Archery, and esports is a member of National Association of Collegiate E-sports.
For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, call toll-free 800-367-9222.
Kennell will be responsible for the management and development of Penn College's 16 intercollegiate programs effective July 18.
"We are excited to welcome Scott back to Penn College and to Williamsport. He quickly rose to the top of a very strong nationwide candidate pool," said Elliott Strickland, vice president for student affairs. "Scott brings years of experience as a successful student-athlete, coach and administrator within the NCAA.
"We are excited that Scott will lead Wildcat Athletics into a new era."
Kennell spent the previous six years as director of athletics at Madonna University, an NAIA institution outside of Detroit. During Kennell's tenure, Madonna reached new heights, including two national championship teams and a pair of national runners-up. The Crusaders finished in the top 100 of the Learfield Cup standings six times – including a 26th-place finish.Kennell, who was named Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference AD of the Year in 2018, added three sports programs (football, cheer and dance), developed the student-athlete advisory committee, kick-started the Crusader Club, increased staffing, and oversaw several renovations projects. Madonna student-athletes averaged above a 3.0 GPA and completed an average of 2,000 hours of community service in each of Kennell's years guiding the department.
"I'm excited to be back at Penn College. It's a great institution with a fantastic Athletics Department – one that can be built into an illustrious Division III program," Kennell said. "I'm looking forward to working with the staff, coaches, faculty and other colleagues to create opportunities for our student-athletes to succeed academically, athletically and individually.
"I want to thank former President Dr. (Davie Jane) Gilmour, current President Dr. (Michael J.) Reed, Mr. Strickland, and the search committee for trusting me once again to lead this department. I also want to thank (interim directors) Matt Blymier and Britni Mohney for overseeing the department the past year and continuing the proud tradition of Wildcat Athletics."
Kennell served as Penn College's director of athletics from 2011-16 and helped guide the institution's acceptance into the NCAA's Division III and as members of the North Eastern Athletic Conference. Also during that time, six coaching positions were elevated from part time to full time, an athletics-specific website was launched, an Athletics Hall of Fame was established, the number of recruited student-athletes was significantly increased, and many of the college's athletics facilities and policies were enhanced.
Prior to joining the NCAA, Penn College captured the prestigious Penn State University Athletic Conference Chancellor's Cup twice during Kennell's tenure, which is awarded to the member school with the highest number of points based on the finish of each conference team. Kennell was inducted into the Penn College Hall of Fame in 2021.
Prior to his appointment at Penn College, Kennell served as director of athletics at Lycoming College from 2008-11. The Warriors saw success during that time, including three conference championships, two national tournament berths and one national champion in wrestling. In addition, the department had more than 200 Mid-Atlantic Conference Academic Honor Roll selections and five All-Americans.
In addition to overseeing Lycoming's 17 sports, Kennell also served as the head men's soccer coach, a position he began in 2000. He left Lycoming as the winningest coach in program history with a 110-87-12 (.541 winning percentage) record and took his program to five Commonwealth Conference playoff berths while also earning a MAC Commonwealth Coach of the Year award.
Kennell graduated from North Carolina Wesleyan College in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. After a standout career as a men's soccer student-athlete at North Carolina Wesleyan, Kennell was drafted by the EISL Savannah Rugratz as the eighth overall pick. From 1998-99, he played with the United Soccer League's Eastern Shore Sharks.
Kennell's efforts as a player earned him entrance into the North Carolina Wesleyan College Athletic Hall of Fame. The Perry Hall, Maryland, native has also been inducted into the Perry Hall High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Perry Hall High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame. In 2013, Kennell was named to the USA South Athletic Conference 50th Anniversary Men's Soccer Team.
Thirteen of Penn College's 16 intercollegiate athletic teams participate in the United East Conference: men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross-country, women's volleyball, men's golf, baseball, men's lacrosse, and softball.
The wrestling team competes in the Empire Collegiate Wrestling Conference, men's and women's archery competes in USA Archery, and esports is a member of National Association of Collegiate E-sports.
For more about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education, call toll-free 800-367-9222.