By Buffalo State Sports Information

BUFFALO, NY -- Director of Athletics Renee Carlineo has selected Stephen Hart as the first head coach of the Buffalo State women's wrestling program, the department of intercollegiate athletics announced on Friday afternoon. Hart will begin to build the program this year in preparation for the inaugural season of competition in the 2024-25 school year.

"We are thrilled to welcome Stephen Hart as the first head coach of the Buffalo State women's wrestling program," Carlineo said. "Stephen is an extremely respected and successful coach in the wrestling community, and we're excited to bring in a coach of Stephen's caliber to build and lead this program."

"Women's wrestling is an emerging collegiate sport, and Buffalo State is proud to be the first SUNY school, and one of the first schools in the Northeast, to sponsor women's wrestling. I am confident that Coach Hart will thrive in the Buffalo State community, and I am excited to watch him create a positive environment for our future student-athletes and lead them to experience great success both on and off the mats."

An accomplished wrestling coach in the Western New York area for nearly 20 years, Hart previously served as the head wrestling coach at Starpoint High School in Lockport from 2014 to 2023. He transformed a program into a perennial conference contender, while guiding student-athletes to tremendous individual and team success.

During his tenure at Starpoint, Hart coached student-athletes to 32 Section VI Place finishes, eight New York State Championship representatives, four New York State Place finishes, and one individual New York State Champion. He also coached the team to three conference championships, the 2023 Section VI Dual Meet victory, the 2023 NYSPHSAA Division I Dual Meet victory, and a top-25 national ranking. The Division I Dual Meet title for Starpoint was also the first for any school in Section VI. Hart was also honored as the Section VI Coach of the Year four times, and was recognized as the winner of the 2023 Jon Vesper Award.

Prior to Starpoint, Hart served as head wrestling coach at Iroquois High School in Elma from 2012-2014. During his extremely successful stint at Iroquois, the team claimed two league championships, and individually had four Section VI Champions, six New York State qualifiers, four New York State Place finishes, and two New York State Champions.

Hart also spent time from 2004 to 2009 as an assistant wrestling coach for the Super Six at the University at Buffalo. He trained both high school and college wrestlers for national-level events in Freestyle, Greco Roman, and Folkstyle.
A Kenmore native, Hart is also part of the USA Wrestling staff, serving as a coach for the New York State Men's and Women's National Team for both Freestyle and Greco.

"I am thankful to Mrs. Renee Carlineo and the Buffalo State Athletics Department for this tremendous opportunity," Hart said. "Women's wrestling is an ever-growing sport with the potential to move the entire sport of wrestling to the next level here in Western New York."

"I am dedicated to building Buffalo State Women's Wrestling into a premier destination for all diverse, talented, and determined young women from all backgrounds. The goal is to provide an unequivocal student-athlete experience, which fosters an environment of success and sense of belonging."

No stranger to Buffalo State, Hart completed his undergraduate and graduate studies from the University. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in individualized studies in 2016, and earned a master's degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration in 2020.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT STEPHEN

"I am excited to watch Coach Hart build a nationally competitive program at Buffalo State. Coach Hart's passion for Western New York wrestling, and his work ethic, are second to none. With Coach Hart, Buffalo State is getting a winner!"
-John Stutzman, University at Buffalo Division I Head Wrestling Coach

"You will not find a coach more in than Coach Hart. I know that he will be 100% dedicated to creating a successful program at Buffalo State, and I look forward to watching his success in the future."
-Alex Conti, Section VI Girls Wrestling Chairman