McGinley and King's Wrestling go hand-in-hand. To say McGinley 'is King's College Wrestling' would not be an exaggeration. After all, McGinley started wrestling at King's in 1968 and has been the only head coach in program history. The Monarchs began as a Division II program but joined the NCAA Division III ranks in 1980 when King's became a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference.
During his career McGinley has coached 45 College Division/Division III national tournament qualifiers; 18 NCAA Division III All-Americans; 20 Middle Atlantic Conference individual champions; six Metropolitan Conference winners; five National Catholic Invitational Tournament champions; while 13 of his wrestlers concluded undefeated dual-meet seasons. He also produced six wrestlers who reached the NCAA Division III national finals. McGinley's teams have also excelled in the classroom, as evidenced by the 32 NCAA Division III Scholar All-Americans he coached. His 2015 and 2016 squads were also crowned the top-ranked Division III academic teams nationally in both 2015 and 2016 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.
Wednesday night at Oneonta, McGinley coached his 900th dual meet at King's. With five dual meet left in the regular-season, McGinley has posted a 452-447-1 record. His last scheduled competition will come at the NCAA East Regional Championships February 24-25. If the Monarchs are able to qualify a wrestler to the Division III National Tournament, his tenure will extend to March 10-11 when the event is held in La Crosse Wisconsin.
McGinely was recently credited as the longest-tenured active wrestling coach at the NCAA Division I, II, and III levels by the Jason Bryant, President of the National Wrestling Media Association. Don Murray of Division III Brockport State is currently in his 47th year while Pat Pecora of Division II Pitt-Johnstown is in his 41st season.
It is unknown if McGinley is the longest-tenured coach in college wrestling history as accurate records from the past are available. It is known that McGinley became the longest active coach in 2014-15 when Steve Eldridge of Division III Coast Guard Academy retired after 47 years following the 2013-14 season. Bucky Maughan at North Dakota State (DI and DII) also coached 47 years before stepping down after the 2010-11 campaign.
McGinley may unofficially be the second-longest tenured active coach in all college sports. A survey of NCAA sports information directors produced one coach enjoying a longer active coaching tenure than McGinley. NCAA Division III North Central College men's cross country coach Al Carius recently completed his 51st season as head coach, but it is unknown if SID's with longer tenured coaches failed to respond to the survey.
12762"Coaching at King's College for 48 years has allowed me to live inside a sport that has been a constant thread throughout my life," McGinley reflected. "There is no more joy in life than living your hobby. My family and King's College have bonded over these 48 years of being together and it has been an incredible, wonderful run. It takes tremendous energy and enthusiasm to coach and run practice and time has finally it caught up to me."
McGinley has produced a number of top teams during his storied coaching career. His 1996-97 squad was 19-3 while the 2000-01 team finished with a 19-2-1 record. His best season came in 2001-02, when McGinley led the Monarchs to a school-record 24-2 mark and King's concluded the dual meet season ranked fourth nationally, its highest national ranking ever. The Monarchs also placed fourth in the first NWCA Division III National Duals.
McGinley also spearheaded the effort which brought the 2002 NCAA Division III National Wrestling Tournament to Wachovia Arena (now Mohegan Sun Arena) in Wilkes-Barre where King's served as co-host of the NCAA tourney with the University of Scranton. In 2002-03, King's finished 11th in the Division III National Tournament.
Individually, Larry Danko became McGinley's first all-American, earning the honor three straight years from 1988-90. Danko also became McGinley's first national finalist, placing second in the 1990 NCAA Division III National Tournament at 177-pounds. In 2003, McGinley produced a pair of national runner-ups as both Mitch Marcks (125) and Jim Morgan (141) both finished second.
In 2007, McGinley produced two more all-Americans as Jason Reilly placed fourth at 197 pounds. In addition, David Morgan became McGinley's first NCAA Division III national champion when he won the 133-pound title. A year later, Morgan would repeat at 133 to become a two-time Division III national championship winner. McGinley would produce one more national finalist in 2012 when Mike Reilly placed second at 184-pounds after finishing fourth at 174 in 2011. His last two national qualifiers were Shane Stark (184) in 2013 and Tommy Desir (165) in 2014.
From the 2000-01 season through the 2013-14 campaigns, McGinley sent at least one wrestler to nationals. He produced 25 NCAA tournament qualifiers during that span.
McGinley is a two-time MAC "Coach of the Year" and was the recipient of both the NCAA "25-Year Coaching Award." Ned is a member of the Luzerne County sports Hall of Fame, the Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association and NCAA Division III Wrestling Coaches Halls of Fame. On April 26, 2016, McGinley received the biggest honor of his career when he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, OK.
"I would just like to thank all the wrestlers I coached over the years," McGinley added. "They have provided me with a lifetime of memories, but perhaps most important is the personal relationships and friendships that have developed and lasted over time. It is also important to thank the King's administration for all their support over the years. There have been a lot of programs that have dropped off over the years but our administration has stood firmly behind wrestling. I am also grateful for the help and support I have had from members of our athletic department, most notably our athletic directors, the late John Dorish, as well as Cheryl Ish. It's impossible to list all the great people I have come in contact with over the
years but they have all contributed to this experience, one way or the other."
As a wrestler, McGinley was a two-time district champion and regional runner-up at Kingston High School, where he graduated from in 1961. He was the team captain his senior year and had a dual meet career record of 31-1-1. He graduated from Wilkes College in 1965 after earning four letters and posting a career record of 50-14. He was a two-time medalist in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) and a Bronze medal in the NAIA's (1963).
"What makes Ned so special is that throughout the history of the program, his focus has always been the experience and well-being of his athletes," King's Associate V.P. and Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation He has enjoyed great success, but along the way it was never about him, it always about his team. Ned is humble and always ready to give credit to the athletes for their success. I am not surprised that the wrestling alums are still so invested in the program. Ned definitely created a culture of a family with this team. He has been a wonderful mentor to the men he has coached that far extends beyond the wrestling mat. He has coached with dignity and grace and will be missed. I have worked with Ned for 22 years and he is always the first person to lend and ear or support when needed. Ned would often joke that they built the gym around him. In my mind, Ned will always be King's Wrestling. We are grateful for his time, energy and love he given to this program."
McGinely will wind down his dual meet career Sunday at Lycoming before returning home for the final four home dual meets of his career. King's will host Elizabethtown February 3; Centenary February 7; and Keystone February 10. His final dual meet will be on February 16 when McGinley faces his alma-mater Wilkes at 7:00 PM in Scandlon Gymnasium.
McGinley retired from teaching in the Wyoming Valley West School District in 1999, when he became the Athletic Recruiting Coordinator at King's, working in the Office of Admissions. He has been a part-time coach at King's throughout his career, enjoying remarkable success despite not being able to fully dedicate his time to the sport.
Ned and his wife Mary Ellen reside in Wilkes-Barre. They have three children Seana, Edward Jr., and Bridget, along with five grandchildren.
Career Highlights According to Ned McGinley
Starting the program in 1968 and having more than 20 wrestlers at our first practice.
Ray Lagoski won the 1st of three National Catholic Tournaments 1970.
Wilkes Open Champion Don Mazzante as well as National Catholic Champion 1971.
Defeating, at the time, Top 10 Nationally ranked Oswego and sweeping that Quad in NY.
Taking qualifying athletes to the NCAA College Division National Tournament 1972 and 1973.
Taking qualifying athlete to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Taking qualifying athletes to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Larry Danko 1st All-American 1989.
Having 4 Champions at the MAC Tournament and taking them to the NCAA Division III Tournament 1990.
Having Larry Danko (177) in the NCAA Tournament Finals for his 3rd All-American Medal in 1991.
Taking four Athletes to the 2001 NCAA D3 Tournament again, including 3 freshmen.
Placing 4th at the NCAA Division III Dual Championship at Ohio State University 2002.
Winning 2002 Bud Whitehill National Duals.
Having four qualifiers and two All-Americans at the D3 Championship we hosted in 2002.
Having two wrestlers - Mitch Marcks (125) and Jim Morgan (141) - in the NCAA D3 Finals at Ohio Northern 2003. Both placed 2nd and finished their careers as four-time national qualifiers.
In 2006 the crowning of our first National Champion David Morgan (133) and Jason Reilly (197) placing 4th at 197. The team also placed 6th in the NCAA DIII Tournament.
David Morgan wins 2nd Division III national title in 2007
Mike Reilly finishes 2nd in Division III National Tournament in 2011 at 184-pounds, earning 2nd Division III All-American medal. Reilly was also Wilkes Open Champion in 2011.
King's wrestling earns 2015 and 2016 NWCA Academic team title for highest GPA in NCAA DIII Wrestling.
Being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016.
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