Bio

Ken Allen served as UW-Oshkosh’s head men’s gymnastics coach from 1969-82 and 84-92, leading the Titans to seven National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championships (1973, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 & 1982) and three National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II titles (1980, 1981 & 1982).

UW-Oshkosh also won a pair of Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles under Allen, who received NCAA Division II Coach of the Year honors three times (1980, 1981 & 1982) and NAIA Coach of the Year recognition on five occasions (1973, 1978, 1980, 1981 & 1982). He coached athletes to 42 NAIA, 23 NCAA Division II and 13 WIAC event titles.

Allen began his tenure at UW-Oshkosh by taking over a men's gymnastics program that was only in its fourth year of existence. In 1973, after nearly four years of laying the foundation, Allen's hard work began to show dividends as he led the Titans to WIAC and NAIA championships.

The NAIA title won by Allen's squad was the first national championship claimed by any UW-Oshkosh program. UW-Oshkosh repeated as both conference and national champion the following year and began to establish itself as one of the premier men's gymnastics programs in the country.

Allen was an assistant coach for the USA men’s gymnastics team at the 1977 World University Games and head coach for the East Team at the 1978 National Sports Festival. In 1983, Allen was an assistant coach for the Switzerland National Team. He was a men’s gymnastics judging assistant for the 1984 and 1996 Olympic Games as well as a men’s gymnastics judge for the 1985, 1991 and 1997 World Championships.

Allen received the United States Gymnastics Federation Distinguished Service Award in 1987 and was named the National Association of College Gymnastics Coaches Honor Coach of the Year in 1996.

Allen was inducted into the National Gymnastics Judges’ Hall of Fame in 1996, UW-Oshkosh Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999, USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2008 and WIAC Hall of Fame in 2022. In 2012, he was selected the WIAC Men’s Gymnastics All-Time Coach in conjunction with the conference’s Centennial Celebration.

Allen began his gymnastics career at Lincoln High School in Jersey City, N.J. After working for a few years and serving three years in the U.S. Army, Allen enrolled at Montclair State University (N.J.). He was a member of the school's gymnastics program and served three years as team captain. He was the squad's Most Valuable Gymnast his senior season.

Allen earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health from Montclair State University in 1966 and master’s degree in biomechanics from the University of Wisconsin in 1968. He then taught a few classes at Ripon College before landing a teaching and coaching position at UW-Oshkosh. Allen taught physical education classes at UW-Oshkosh through the 1999-2000 academic year and served as chair of the school's Physical Education & Health Promotion Department from 1997-2000. He was named the 1973 winner of the UW-Oshkosh Distinguished Teacher Award.

UW-Oshkosh hosted five national meets during Allen's tenure, including the 1975 NAIA and 1981 NCAA Division II championships.

Allen resides in Oshkosh with his wife, Missy. They are the parents of one son and one daughter.

Updated 8/1/2022