Breese to lead Buena Vista
Jeff Breese, the former Director of Wrestling Operations at his alma mater NC State, has been named the next head coach at Buena Vista. Breese has also had stops at Northern Illinois, Seton Hill, and Penn State-New Kensington. The Claysville, Pennsylvania, native was a three year starter for the Wolfpack, graduating in 2006. His father, also named Jeff, is an assistant coach at Washington & Jefferson. Read below for more.
Breese Hired as Head Wrestling Coach
Buena Vista University Director of Athletics, Christyn Abaray, has announced the hiring of Jeff Breese as its new head wrestling coach. Breese takes over for Sevond Cole, who had held the position for the last six years.
“I am excited to have Coach Jeff Breese joining our department as the new head wrestling coach,” says Abaray. “Jeff brings with him his experience competing at the Division I level and coaching at both Divisions I and III levels, from upstarting a program to training All-Americans. Knowing we are here to develop future leaders, Jeff has shown that he sees the holistic development of the student-athletes as the main priority. I am thrilled to have him on board and look forward to the growth of our wrestling program.”
Breese comes to BVU after serving as the director of operations at his alma mater of North Carolina State University since 2012. During his time there, he has managed the team’s budget and coordinated its travel schedule, co-directed social media and video promotions, developed a satellite camp system and a match film system, and directed match day events and activities, among other duties.
In addition, he also spent time working with the Wolfpack Wrestling Club directing its fundraising and alumni relations activities. He also worked hand-in-hand with the Wolfpack Regional Training Center and organized and co-directed a system that trained over 300 wrestlers annually.
“I am thrilled and very blessed to have the opportunity to guide a program with such a great history in one of the most competitive conferences in all of wrestling,” says Breese. “It is very exciting to present my vision for the program and work with our student-athletes to help them reach their goals. The most gratifying aspect to becoming a head coach is being able to honor the countless people that have mentored me and shaped my approach to coaching.”
He began his career in the coaching field in 2006 at Seton Hall University where he spent two years assisting in starting up the university’s wrestling program. He then became the first head coach at Penn State New Kensington in 2009 before moving to Division I Northern Illinois University as an assistant coach in 2010.
Throughout his coaching career, he has coached 21 NCAA Qualifiers, including one national champion, and three All-Americans. He’s also had a hand in four top-30 national recruiting classes, including one ranked in the top-5.
“Buena Vista Wrestling has strong wrestling tradition that should be celebrated,” adds Breese. “I want our current student-athletes to continue to build upon that tradition and make their own legacy.”
A 2006 graduate of North Carolina State University, Breese was a three-year starter for the Wolfpack and a member of their 2004 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) championship team.
A native of Claysville, Pa., he was a two-time Pennsylvania High School state champion – freshman (1999) and junior (2001) – going a perfect 41-0 during his freshman campaign. He finished his prep career at 105-9.
Breese is scheduled to begin duties at BVU on August 1st.