College of DuPage Athletics

Joe Kuhn enters his fourth season of leading the men's basketball program at the College of DuPage in 2025-2026

Kuhn, who spent a sterling 25 seasons at nearby Joliet Junior College, delivered COD's first Region 4 championship in 14 seasons and a sixth-place finish, its best in 16 seasons, at the NJCAA Division III Championship in 2022-23.

The Chaps enjoyed a 22-15 overall record, their most wins since that 2008-09 team. They were led by All-Americans Drew Gaston and Matt Elliott.

In 2023-24, Kuhn led the COD to its first season as a scholarship program, playing at the Division II level and finishing 17-14 overall. COD then earned its second 20-win season in the last three seasons when the Chaps went 21-10 in 2024-25.

In three seasons, Kuhn owns an overall record of 60-39 with the Chaps.
 
He is the sixth head coach in COD school history for a program that began in 1967.

Under Kuhn's leadership, Joliet JC went 525-259 (a .670 winning percentage) and won the 2010 NJCAA Division III championship. Joliet won at least 20 games in 15 of his final 18 seasons and 16 times overall. He led the Wolves to the national tournament seven times (1998, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2022) with three title game appearances and four Final Four appearances. He coached 16 All-Americans, seven N4C conference players of the year and more than 40 All-Region players. The Wolves played in the Region IV title game 19 of his 25 seasons including 15 consecutive seasons with seven conference titles (2001, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013).
 
Kuhn was inducted into the NJCAA Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2017, and also is a member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame (2015) and the NJCAA Region IV Hall of Fame (2013.).

Kuhn served as the President for the NJCAA Basketball Coaches Association (2021-24). Under Kuhn's leadership, the NJCAA partnered with the NCAA to be included in the NCAA College Basketball Academy. He also continued the NJCAA All-Star Game in Las Vegas, renewing the event after a two-year hiatus due to COVID. He was instrumental in creating the Coaches Association's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, providing a more comprehensive and varied view point to represent all participants in NJCAA Basketball.

He is also on the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Board of Directors.

Kuhn served as an assistant coach at JJC during the 1992-93 season. That year, the Wolves advanced to the NJCAA Division II nationals in Delta, Mich., finished with a 30-6 record, and won the N4C championship.

Before accepting the coaching position at JJC, Kuhn was the head coach at Rich East High School for three seasons.

Kuhn was an assistant coach at the University of St. Francis for two seasons (1990-92) before taking the assistant coaching position at JJC.
 
Prior to coaching at USF, Kuhn was an educator and assistant coach for both basketball and baseball at Thornwood High School in South Holland.
 
Kuhn received his Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education from Chicago State University and earned Master’s Degrees in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University and Educational Leadership from American College of Education.
 
Kuhn, who retired from his physical education position at Rich Township High School, and his wife Kathy make their home in New Lenox.