If recent successes are any indication, the future looks bright for the Cal Poly wrestling program. Now, a new head coach is hoping to turn the school into a national power.
The Cal Poly wrestling team will have a new head coach for the first time in nearly a decade. Brendan Buckley will replace co-head coaches John Azevedo, who retired after eight successful seasons, and Mark Perry, who resigned in April to become the associate head coach at the University of Illinois.
“I am thrilled to be here,” Buckley said. “The school competes in the Pac 12 (formerly Pac-10), has tremendous resources and a rich wrestling history. Cal Poly has one of the highest ceilings in collegiate wrestling.”
The experience Buckley will bring to Cal Poly wrestling makes the goal to reach nationals even more tangible.
Even with a new coach, expectations remain high for the team.
“We still expect to be a top-15 team,” junior 125-pounder Jacob Tanenbaum said. “We want to beat Boise State and Oregon State, and this year we hope Boris (Novachkov) can get to nationals.”
Buckley is a former Western Athletic Conference wrestling champion at Fresno State, where he transferred after Clemson dropped its wrestling program. Prior to taking his position with the Mustangs, he was the head coach at Columbia University. He compiled a 71-84-1 record in 11 seasons there and had five nationally ranked recruiting classes at a school more known for its high academic standards than its athletic programs.
Buckley has strong ties to California, too. He was an assistant at UC Davis and Sacramento City College. While in California, Buckley said he learned the true potential of the talent here.
“California is one the best wrestling states in the country,” Buckley said. “There are kids who finish fifth in the state in their weight classes, but are still elite wrestlers because the competition in the state is so strong.”
To compete with the competition, Buckley’s first goal at Cal Poly is to amass a talented coaching staff. He said he hopes to amass a staff of experienced coaches who specialize in coaching different weight classes. This is something junior 174-pounder Steven Vasquez said he is excited.
“I am really looking forward to working with Coach Buckley and his new staff,” Vasquez said. “I hope we have coaches who I can wrestle with.”
After working with Buckley, Tanenbaum said he feels the same way.
“Coach is really emphasizing improving our technique this summer,” Tanenbaum said. “Since he is young, he is fun to wrestle with.”
Buckley’s next priority is recruiting. He said he hopes to build strong relationships with high school coaches across the state and enhance the popularity of the sport in the Central Coast.
“We have to develop good relationships with coaches in the area,” Buckley said. “You do this by hosting great wrestling camps, reaching out to alumni and continue to receive great support from the student body.”
The new coach said he was attracted to Cal Poly because of the university’s commitment to nurturing student athletes. Each of his teams at Columbia was named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association Academic Team. Last season, Columbia ranked third in the country with a 3.29 grade point average.
Buckley’s emphasis to academics will mesh well with a team that had two members named to the Pac-10 All-Academic Team. Stephen Thalin was named to the first team, while Tanenbaum was a second team selection.
“We will always have wrestlers that are excellent student athletes,” Buckley said. “I want recruits to know that they can come to Cal Poly and a be great wrestler, but also be a great engineer, or a successful CEO.”