Bio

Graham Kennedy became the fifth head coach in X-Men Soccer history in 2009 when he took over from long-serving coach Lou Bilek, who retired after 39 years coaching the X-Men. In 2013, Kennedy expanded his role to oversee both StFX Soccer programs, becoming the seventh head coach of the X-Women.

An X-Men soccer alumnus, Kennedy completed a Bachelor of Science at StFX in 1990, majoring in physical education and minoring in biology. He completed his master’s degree in coaching at the University of Victoria in 1996.

Coach Kennedy has an extensive resume in soccer and has worked at all levels of the game, from grassroots to adult soccer, including elite youth development, coach education, club management, and pro scouting. During a career spanning more than four decades he has helped develop multiple youth international players, four senior national team players, several professionals, and over 100 NCAA and U SPORTS scholarship athletes.

Kennedy has been an AUS conference Coach of the Year on four occasions and was selected as U SPORTS Coach of the Year in 2010 (men) and 2023 (women). His X-Men and X-Women teams have missed the conference playoffs only twice in his tenure. Kennedy has established both teams as conference powerhouses and nationally prominent programs.

The X-Men finished the 2024 season with a 5^th place finish at the U SPORTS National Championships, and they have been ranked nationally in the top 10 in all but two seasons of Kennedy’s tenure. In 2022, the X-Women achieved their highest-ever national ranking at #4. Under Kennedy, the X-Women have played in four conference championship games (2016, 2018, 2021, and 2023), winning the AUS championship and attending the national championships in 2016 and 2023. The X-Men have reached the AUS final and represented the conference at the U SPORTS national championships in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The X-Men were AUS conference champions in 2023 and 2024. The X-Men were winners of the U SPORTS R.J. Pugh Award for Outstanding Sportsmanship in 2022, 2023, and 2024. 

Twenty X-Men have received U SPORTS All-Canadian selections during Kennedy’s tenure, along with eleven X-Women. In addition, Kennedy has recruited five U SPORTS All-Rookie award winners and one U SPORTS Player of the Year (Dan Hayfield, 2017).

Most importantly to Coach Kennedy, his teams have been exceptional in the classroom, consistently producing multiple Academic All-Canadians. As of 2023, more than 200 AAC awards have been earned by StFX soccer players recruited by Kennedy.

Before StFX, Kennedy spent eleven years at Calgary Foothills FC where he served as technical director and director of coaching and helped build the club into one of the most successful amateur clubs in the nation. In 2016, he was assistant coach of U SPORTS Team Canada women’s futsal, finishing fourth in the FISU games in Brazil.

Kennedy has a Chartered Professional Coach designation from the Coaches Association of Canada and advanced coaching licenses from Canada, USA, and England. Further to his coaching qualifications, Kennedy has professional experience as a junior and senior high school teacher and a background in information systems and management consulting.

Kennedy lives in Antigonish with his wife Joanie. He has two children, both StFX grads and both X-Men and X-Women Soccer alums.