Jefferson Thomas Hennessy Sr. (October 27, 1929 – March 24, 2015) was trampoline coach and physical educator. He was an

Associate Professor Associate professor is an academic title with two principal meanings: in the North American system and that of the ''Commonwealth system''. Overview In the ''North American system'', used in the United States and many other countries, it is a ...

of Physical Education at University of Louisiana at Lafayette from 1959 to 1986, served as the director of the University’s gymnastics and trampoline programs and he was the United States trampolining coach from 1964 to 1980. In total, his athletes were awarded 26 world championship medals and numerous national and regional titles and medals.

Biography

Hennessy was born in Ancón, Panama, where he lived with his family until the age of 12, before they moved to

Monroe, Louisiana Monroe (historically french: Poste-du-Ouachita) is the eighth-largest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and parish seat of Ouachita Parish. With a 2020 census-tabulated population of 47,702, it is the principal city of the Monroe metropolita ...

. He graduated with a bachelor's degree from Northwestern State University. He was an Associate Professor of Physical Education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in

Lafayette, Louisiana Lafayette (, ) is a city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and the most populous city and parish seat of Lafayette Parish, located along the Vermilion River. It is Louisiana's fourth largest incorporated municipality by population and the 234th- ...

(then named the University of Southwestern Louisiana) from 1959 to 1986, as well as the director of the university's gymnastics and trampoline programs. As a coach, he led the U.S. team to World Championships in the 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1978, and 1980. He was also the U.S. team coach for the Ennia Gold Cup Championships in the Netherlands in 1981, as well as tours of South Africa in 1969, 1974, 1979, and 1981; the Soviet Union in 1974 (first U.S. team to complete in the Soviet Union) and 1977; and Germany in 1974. The University of Southwestern Louisiana gymnastics team was undefeated in 1960 and 1961. The trampoline team was National AAU Trampoline Team Champions from 1964 to 1975 and from 1979 to 1981, and was

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) established in 1940, is a college athletics association for colleges and universities in North America. Most colleges and universities in the NAIA offer athletic scholarships to its stu ...

(NAIA) National Trampoline Team Champions in 1969. Among the most accomplished of Hennessy's athletes were his daughter and world champion

Leigh Hennessy Leigh Hennessy also known as Leigh Hennessy Robson, is a stunt woman, author, and trampoline gymnast. She was a two-time double mini-trampoline world champion, (1976, 1978) and won a silver medal in synchronized trampoline at the World Trampoline ...

, world champion and 1984 Olympic diving medalist Ron Merriott, world champion Stuart Ransom, national champion and 1969 Miss America Judith Ford, world champion Jim Yongue, world champion Don Waters, world champion

Gary Smith (gymnast) Gary or Garry Smith may refer to: Music * Gary Smith (drummer) (born 1950), member of Chase and Survivor * Gary Smith (guitarist), British avant-garde guitarist, improviser and composer * Gary Smith (heavy metal guitarist) * Gary Smith (record p ...

, world champion Wayne Miller, and four time NCAA champion Frank Schmitz. Hennessy died on March 24, 2015, from a lengthy undisclosed illness. He was 85.

Achievements and awards

* World Acrobatics Society Legends Hall of Fame, 2005 * “Jeff T. Hennessy Trampoline and Tumbling Scholarship" established by USA Gymnastics, 2003 * Federation International Gymnastics (FIG) Honorary Member, 1999 * USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame, 1996 * International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, 1992 *

International Trampoline Federation The Fédération Internationale de Trampoline (FIT; English: International Trampoline Federation) was an international governing body of competitive trampoline gymnastics from 1964 to 1998. The organization was created after the first Trampoline G ...

Lifetime Membership Award, 1984 * American Trampoline and Tumbling Association Outstanding Coach of the Year, 1982 *

University of Southwestern Louisiana The University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette, University of Louisiana, ULL, or UL) is a public research university in Lafayette, Louisiana. It has the largest enrollment within the nine-campus University of Louisiana System and the s ...

Distinguished Professor, 1982 * U.S. Trampoline Association Hall of Fame 1976 * Jeff Hennessy Day by Mayoral proclamation in

, 1974 *

Amateur Athletic Union The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is an amateur sports organization based in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. It has ...

Outstanding Coach of the Year, 1970 and 1972 * Member of the

United States Olympic Committee The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is the National Olympic Committee and the National Paralympic Committee for the United States. It was founded in 1895 as the United States Olympic Committee, and is headquartered in Col ...

for Gymnastics, 1965-1969 * United States delegate for the

to Winston Churchill's funeral, 1965 * Professional consultant for United States Diving Inc. on trampoline safety and skill performance, ABC Television, CBS Television,

United States Department of Justice The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a federal executive department of the United States government tasked with the enforcement of federal law and administration of justice in the United State ...

on trampoline safety, United States Gymnastics Safety Association,

, and USA Trampoline and Tumbling on safety and coaching techniques.

Books

* ''The Trampoline As I See It'' (International Publications of Lafayette, 1969) * ''Trampolining'' (William C Brown, 1968) * ''A Successful Guidebook of Twisting Single and Multiple Somersaults'' (2007)

References

External links

Jeff Hennessy official page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hennessy, Jeff 1929 births 2015 deaths American male trampolinists Northwestern State University alumni University of Louisiana at Lafayette faculty People from Panamá District Zonians