Bronze Statue of Wrestling Icon Kerry McCoy Unveiled at University of Maryland
the University of Maryland campus, a bronze statue of wrestling legend Kerry McCoy was officially unveiled today outside the Xfinity Center, immortalizing one of the greatest figures in American collegiate and international wrestling.
McCoy, a two-time NCAA champion, Olympian, and former head coach of the Maryland Terrapins wrestling program, was visibly moved as the crowd of alumni, athletes, university officials, and fans erupted into applause.
> “I never dreamed of something like this,” McCoy said, standing beside the statue that depicts him mid-celebration, arms raised in triumph. “This isn’t just for me—it’s for every athlete I’ve coached, every teammate I’ve trained with, and every kid who dared to dream big.”
Commissioned by the University of Maryland Athletics Department and sculpted by renowned artist Lisa Foster, the 7-foot bronze figure honors McCoy’s legacy not only as a competitor but also as a mentor, builder, and advocate for the sport.
A Storied Legacy
McCoy was a three-time All-American at Penn State and a two-time Olympian (2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens).
After his competitive career, he coached at Stanford and Maryland, producing dozens of NCAA qualifiers and building national respect for both programs.
He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014.
University President Darryll Pines called McCoy “a symbol of grit, humility, and leadership,” while current Maryland wrestlers praised him for laying the foundation they now build upon.
The statue will serve as the new gateway to the university’s wrestling complex, where future generations of Terrapin wrestlers will walk past McCoy’s likeness on their way to the mat.
