Jefferson Hennessy (2019) - Louisiana Athletics Hall of Fame

Jefferson Hennessy

Induction:
2019

Jefferson Hennessy, an Associate Professor of Physical Education at Louisiana from 1959-86, served as the director of the University's gymnastics and trampoline programs and was the United States trampolining coach from 1964-80.

A 1992 USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame inductee based on his work at Northwestern State (1957-59), UL Lafayette (1959-86) and with the U.S. Gymnastics program, Hennessy was internationally regarded as a trailblazer in the sport of trampoline. He coached numerous world and national champions and served as United States team coach from 1964-80. He also played a key role in getting trampoline accepted into the Olympic Games.

Hennessy was instrumental in establishing the first trampoline World Championships, which were held in London, England, in 1964. He hosted the 1966 World Championships in Lafayette, and in 2014 he was a distinguished guest at the 50^th anniversary World Championships in Daytona Beach, Fla. In addition, he was a member of the United States Olympic Committee for Gymnastics.

As a coach, Hennessy led the U.S. team in nine World Championships. His athletes won a total of 26 world championship medals. Most notable among his athletes were his daughter, Leigh Hennessy, who won two world championships; national champion and 1969 Miss America Judith Ford; world champion and 1984 Olympic diving medalist Ron Merriott; world champions Don Waters, Gary Smith, Bobby Neely, Jim Cartledge, and Wayne Miller; and national champions Jimmy Yongue and Stuart Ransom.

His athletes won more national championships than he was able to recall. As a measure of his accomplishments, his gym on the UL Lafayette campus produced more world and national trampoline champions than anywhere else in the nation. In addition, his gymnastics team was undefeated in 1960 and 1961, and the trampoline team was National AAU Champions from 1964 to 1975 and 1979 to 1981.

Hennessy was named a Distinguished Professor in 1982 and retired from the UL Lafayette faculty in 1986. He wrote three books and numerous articles about trampoline. Among his many awards were membership in the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame, the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, the World Acrobatics Society Hall of Fame, and the U.S. Trampoline Association Hall of Fame. He was also named the Amateur Athletic Union Outstanding Coach of the Year in 1970 and 1972 and the American Trampoline and Tumbling Association Outstanding Coach of the Year in 1982. He passed away in March 2015.