James Kikel joined the USMMA football coaching staff ahead of the 2016 season and served as the program’s quarterbacks coach until he became the Mariners’ Offensive Coordinator starting with the 2022 season.
As the OC the past two seasons, he coached five All-Region honorees and saw a total of eight offensive players land on the All-NEWMAC Team.
Kikel’s recruiting areas for USMMA include California, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Nevada, Hawaii, Oregon, New Mexico, Montana, Alaska, Utah, Nebraska, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
During his six seasons as the quarterbacks coach, Kikel mentored Brice Moore ‘18, Krystian Abbott ‘20 and Ian Blankenship ‘21 behind center. Moore was a First Team All-Liberty League (2016) and Second Team All-NEWMAC (2017) Athlete, while also being named a team captain and the Clayton Chapman ECAC Bowl Game MVP in 2017. Abbott was the 2018 New England Bowl Game MVP and earned Second Team All-ECAC and First Team All-NEWMAC selections in 2019. Blankenship was the 2021 NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year by D3Football.com for Region 1 as well as a Semi-Finalist for the Division III Heisman Award.
Kikel came to the Mariner coaching staff after a stint at nearby St. Francis Prep. High School in Queens, where he served the 2015 season as the defensive backs coach for the Terriers’ varsity football program. After the season concluded, he was promoted to defensive coordinator for the squad in December of 2015.
Prior to his role at St. Francis Prep., Kikel was on the coaching staff at his alma mater, Springfield College, for three seasons (2012-14) while earning his master’s degree from the institution. He was the Pride’s wide receivers’ coach for the 2012 season and then spent his final two seasons at Springfield as the Quarterbacks coach.
Kikel was a four-year member and two-year starter at free safety for the Pride from 2009-11 and served as a team captain during his senior season. He was selected to the All-Empire 8 Team during his final campaign after he led the conference in tackles. Kikel was named the team’s most valuable defensive player after the 2011 season.
A native of Glendale, Queens, Kikel graduated from both St. Francis Prep. and Springfield College. He earned a bachelor’s of science degree from Springfield in 2012 with a double major in mathematics and education with a concentration in secondary education. He went on to obtain a master’s of education in physical education with an athletic administration concentration from Springfield in 2014. He currently resides in Glendale, N.Y., with his wife Ally.
