A defining era in Simon Kenton wrestling ended last week when veteran coach Jarrod Peebles stepped down following the KHSAA boys state championships in Lexington. The 2003 Simon Kenton graduate is ending a 28‑year association with the high school program.
“The team has known for a while, but I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it so we could keep the focus on the wrestlers,” said Peebles, 40. “My plan is to stick around one more year to help with the transition, then I am retiring from coaching for the foreseeable future.”
Peebles’ involvement with the program began at age 12, a testament to how deeply woven he is into the fabric of Pioneer wrestling.
Over the years, he grew from a young participant into a two-time state-qualifying varsity wrestler in the upper weight classes. While attending Northern Kentucky University, Peebles started helping the Simon Kenton wrestling program on a part-time basis. He was eventually asked to be an assistant and was promoted to head coach in 2020.
In his six years at the helm, Peebles helped shape the Pioneers’ identity as a gritty, blue‑collar program. He built it on hard work and community pride. His role extended beyond coaching duties on the mat. Peebles became a key point of contact for Simon Kenton athletes and families. His long tenure gave him a level of institutional knowledge few could match.
“This was a hard decision to come to,” Peebles said. “But I felt that in the best interest of my future goals, it was time to step down and let someone else take the helm.”
Peebles is a trained and licensed mental health counselor. He’s been a therapist for six years. Over the last year he was promoted to clinical manager, overseeing therapists and case managers for his employer. Before that, he worked as a licensed professional clinical counselor. The job promotion was a factor in stepping down, as balancing multiple roles became increasingly difficult.
“There was a combination of factors, which include newer opportunities with my day job that I could not pass up and the length of time I have spent in this sport,” Peebles said. “I value every year and season I’ve spent with this team, and will miss it. But I feel like I’ve put in my time, and I’m at a point where I don’t think I’ll regret stepping away.”
Even as his professional responsibilities grew, Peebles remained committed to the program. His departure comes at a natural transition point — immediately after a state meet where Simon Kenton continued to assert itself as a competitive presence.
The Pioneers met a goal by placing in the top 10 of the final team standings at the state championships. They tied for eighth, up seven spots from the previous season. They had a pair of third-place finishes in brothers Braydan Blevins at 126 pounds and Cody Blevins at 106. Their father, Dan Blevins, who wrestled Peebles nearly a quarter century ago while competing at Holmes, is a Pioneers assistant.
Simon Kenton was runner-up at this year’s Region 5 meet. The Pioneers slipped past five-time champion Ryle in the standings for the first time this decade. They sent nine state qualifiers to Lexington, including three regional champs and three runners-up. They had four top-eight state placers.
This may have been Peebles’ finest coaching season. His roster was cut nearly in half by attrition and the rest had to battle injuries and illness.
While the Pioneers have several other experienced coaches, including a separate girls staff, Peebles’ exit marks a significant change for a program that has long relied on his continuity and commitment. His legacy is one of loyalty, longevity and a deep understanding of what makes Simon Kenton wrestling unique.
“They do a nice job over there,” said Ryle coach Tim Ruschell. “Simon Kenton is always solid.”
Nearly 100 wrestlers came through the program under Peebles’ guidance. The foundation he built should be able to continue shaping the squad’s future.
“We work hard,” said freshman Cody Blevins, a potential future state champion. “I feel like we’re always prepared.”
Peebles’ knowledge helped make the Pioneers a force. His preparation for the endgame ensured the program stayed competitive at every level. By returning the Pioneers to elite status regionally while becoming more competitive at state, he accomplished many of the goals laid out when he became head of the proud program he inherited.
“I may not have accomplished every goal I set for myself, but I accomplished most and came pretty close several times to reaching all my goals,” the coach said. “I’m satisfied with what I accomplished for this program. Now seems as good as any time to move on, focus on new and exciting goals for myself, and see where life takes me.”
Simon Kenton won a KHSAA state championship in 1987 with a runner-up finish in 1984. The Pioneers also won a state dual team championship in 1992. They have produced 29 individual state champs, 27 of them boys, including two most outstanding state wrestlers. The Pioneers have generated 159 state placers — 150 boys and nine girls.
In the last three seasons, they have sent nearly two dozen wrestlers to state. They have sent nearly 40 during Peebles’ head-coaching tenure. He’s been a mentor to 19 boys state placers and two state champions in those six years. He also oversaw the creation and development of the girls program that has produced seven state placers and two champions.
The coach has long insisted that success is a much simpler accomplishment when stacked upon effort. “Work your tail off every practice,” Peebles said. “Be coachable so you can grow as a wrestler and focus on your performance and not the result.”
With all of that deeply ingrained in Pioneers wrestlers, Peebles’ exit closes a chapter, but the program is built to endure.