BUFFALO, N.Y. — The inaugural season of Buffalo State's women's wrestling team is just a few months away. But before the season even starts, there’s already a staffing shake-up that’s leaving parents and athletes with some questions.
In a statement sent to parents Tuesday, former Buffalo State head coaches Kellin Devlin and Steve Hart notified players and parents that they will no longer hold those roles.
The coaches wrote, “The University’s administration announced a complete restructuring of the program and the release of the team’s coaching staff.”
However, there has never been an official statement from the University on a restructuring of the program.
In response, Buffalo State officials told channel 2, “Buffalo State University is committed to building a thriving women's wrestling program, beginning with competition this fall. A search process is underway for a new head coach to lead our program."
“It's just the fact that our coaches took so much time to recruit all 24 of us, and for them to fire them out of nowhere doesn't make any sense," wrestler Hannah McCarley said.
Hannah and her twin sister, Brenna, both of whom were stand out athletes at North Tonawanda, were fully committed to pursuing their wrestling careers at the Buffalo State until the Tuesday announcement.
"We just don't want to stay if they're not going to have the coaches that we wished for, and were hoping, for because we were just really excited to be with them and everything,” Hannah McCarley said.
The majority of the recruited athletes will not continue their athletic commitment to Buffalo State. With 2024-25 women’s wrestling season nearby, athletes such as Hannah are in talks with other college-level wrestling programs to secure a spot this season.