Dr. Peter Kenn is entering his fifth year at SMU, where he serves as the Director of Olympic Sports Performance. He oversees the athletic performance programs for SMU's Olympic sports while collaborating across sports medicine, nutrition, and performance support to optimize student-athlete development.
Since arriving at SMU in 2022, Kenn has directly worked with Equestrian, Men's Golf, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving, and Track & Field. Currently, Kenn primarily works with Men's and Women's Soccer, Men's Swim, and Track & Field.
During his tenure, these programs have combined to win two national championships (Equestrian, 2023 & 2024), four conference championships (Men's Soccer, 2023 & 2025; Men's Swimming & Diving, 2023 & 2024), 48 individual or event conference championships, 35 All-America honors, 11 conference Player/Athlete of the Year awards, 161 All-Conference selections and 7 MLS SuperDraft selections. In 2024, nine members of the men's swimming and diving program qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Prior to joining SMU, Kenn served as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Army West Point, where he worked primarily with sprint football, rifle, and wrestling. He also completed strength and conditioning internships at Iowa State, Wake Forest, Appalachian State, and with the Carolina Panthers, gaining experience across collegiate and professional athletics.
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Kenn is an active contributor to the profession through research and education. He has presented at numerous regional and national conferences, including National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) events and the ACC Health & Safety Summit, sharing practical strategies related to athletic performance, leadership, return-to-play, and sports science.
Kenn earned bachelor's and master's degrees in Exercise Science from Appalachian State University, a master's degree in Higher Education from Iowa State University, and a doctorate in Higher Education from Southern Methodist University. As a student-athlete, he competed in track and field for six years at Appalachian State and Iowa State from 2015–2021.
Kenn lives in Dallas with his Fiancé Jordyn and their three dogs Dobby, Sunny, and Wednesday.
