One of the best wrestlers in the history of Rhode Island, Brian Allen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Johnson & Wales University wrestling program. The right-hand man to head coach Lonnie Morris, Allen is going into his 27th season as the Wildcats’ associate head coach.
An integral part of JWU’s success over the years, Allen has earned numerous awards during his coaching career. He has been named Regional Assistant Coach of the Year Seven times (2004, 2007, 2014, 2017, 2019 2023 2025) and received the 2017, 2019 and 2025 National Assistant Coach of the Year honor. He also received the distinguished 25 years of Coaching Award from the NWCA.
During Allen’s time on staff, he helped produce 65 D3 All-Americans, 97 Academic All-Americans, 53 Regional Champions and 175 All-Region Wrestlers and Recorded 450 Dual Meet Wins of Morris’ 464 total.  The 2025 squad earned the highest finish in program history by Winning the National Championship. The 2011 Team earned the distinction of being named the 2011 Academic GPA National Champions.
Allen is extremely passionate about wrestling and growing the sport. Through his work with graphic design and social media, he has promoted the JWU program throughout New England and nationally with great results. Thanks to Allen’s efforts, the Wildcats earned the Gold Standard from the National Wrestling Coaches Association in their Best of Brand competition. The Best of Brand "Gold Standard" competition is the highest award given to the program which most effectively built their brand utilizing technology throughout the year.
Allen has had the honor to have been selected to Represent the NCAA Northeast Region over the many years to Seed the NCAA National Championships and is also part of the D3 New England Wrestling Associations Ranking and Seeding Committee.
During his collegiate career, Allen was a two-time All-American at Rhode Island College, earning honors in 1989 at 126 pounds and in 1991 at 134 pounds. He owns a collegiate career record of 141-33 with 45 wins by fall. After college, Allen continued to wrestle and owns a lifetime record of 376-49.
He was a four-time Region Champion, winning at 126 pounds in 1988, ’89 and ’90, and at 134 pounds in 1991. He has 14 individual titles to his credit. Allen was inducted into the inaugural 2002 NEWA Hall of Fame, the 2002 RIC Hall of Fame, 2004 Rhode Island Wrestling Hall of Fame, 2004 Burrillville Hall of Fame, and the 2023 D3 National Hall of Fame.
Allen has over 30 years of coaching experience at several levels. After his college career was over, Allen went on to coach wrestling at Burrillville High School (1991-97) and was an assistant at RIC in 1997-98. He is currently on his 26th year as a Wildcat (1999-2025).
A 1996 Rhode Island College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, he is currently a physical education teacher in the Providence Public School System. Allen resides in Burrillville, Rhode Island with his wife Melissa and daughters Haley and Riley.
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