James (Jimmy) Allen, a native of Fenton, Michigan, enters his first season at Bethel College as the team’s Special Teams Coordinator and specialist coach.
Allen brings more than a decade of coaching experience to the Threshers after serving as the special teams coach at Fenton High School (Mich.), where he helped develop numerous all-conference and all-state specialists. He also spent two seasons at Alma College (Mich.), working with the kicking and punting units while contributing to the program’s special teams development. In addition, Allen has served as a special teams consultant for multiple collegiate football programs.
In addition to his collegiate and high school coaching experience, Allen is the founder of Allen Kicking Academy, where he has trained kickers and punters from youth football through the professional ranks, including athletes at all collegiate levels and in the NFL.
Allen began his collegiate playing career as a kicker and punter at Grand Rapids Community College before enjoying a 12-year professional playing career as a placekicker in the Indoor Football League (IFL), National Arena League (NAL), and Champions Indoor Football (CIF). During his career, he spent time with teams that included the Iowa Barnstormers, Bismarck Bucks, and Salina Liberty, winning a league championship and earning 15 Special Teams Player of the Week honors, five All-League selections, and the 2021 Special Teams Player of the Year award.
Allen resides in Moundridge, Kansas, with his wife, Rustee, and their two children, Jace and Arabella.
