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United States Merchant Marine Academy

EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS

James Kikel

  • Title
    Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
  • Phone
    516-726-5256
  • Email
    kikelj@usmma.edu
  • Alma Mater
    Springfield '12 / '14
  • First Year
    2016
  • Year
    11th Season
  • Recruiting Areas
    California, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Alaska, Hawaii
James Kikel enters his 11th season on the United States Merchant Marine Academy football staff and his fifth season as Offensive Coordinator, while also serving as the Mariners’ Quarterbacks Coach and Recruiting Coordinator.
 
Since being promoted to Offensive Coordinator prior to the 2022 season, the Mariners have produced three D3football.com All-Region offensive selections, 13 All-NEWMAC offensive honorees, and an AFCA All-American. The offense has featured multiple record-setting performers while maintaining the physical, disciplined, and efficient style that has become a trademark of Merchant Marine football.
 
Prior to becoming offensive coordinator, Kikel spent six seasons as the Mariners’ quarterbacks coach, mentoring some of the most accomplished signal callers in program history. His protégés include Brice Moore, Krystian Abbott, and Ian Blankenship, the 2021 NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Year and D3football.com Region I Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Kikel joined the USMMA staff in 2016 after coaching at St. Francis Prep in Queens, where he served as defensive backs coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator. Before returning to New York, he spent three seasons at his alma mater, Springfield College, coaching wide receivers in 2012 before serving as quarterbacks coach from 2013-14 while completing his master’s degree.
 
A standout player at Springfield College, Kikel was a four-year member of the Pride football program and a two-year starting free safety. He served as team captain during his senior season, earned All-Empire 8 honors after leading the conference in tackles, and was selected as Springfield’s Most Valuable Defensive Player.
 
A native of Glendale, Queens, N.Y., Kikel graduated from St. Francis Prep before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Education from Springfield College in 2012. He completed a Master of Education in Physical Education with a concentration in Athletic Administration in 2014. He and his wife, Ally, reside in Glendale, NY.