Wilberforce University will add men's and women's wrestling to its athletic offerings beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, Director of Athletics Roosevelt Barnes announced May 21.

The addition follows the recent launch of intercollegiate flag football and brings Wilberforce's total to 14 varsity sports. The move reflects the university's continued commitment to expanding opportunities for student-athletes while strengthening its position among HBCU athletic programs.

With the addition of wrestling, Wilberforce will become the only NAIA HBCU to sponsor the sport. Nationally, it will be one of just three HBCUs to offer men's wrestling, joining Morgan State and Delaware State, and one of only two HBCUs to sponsor women's wrestling alongside Delaware State.

“Wilberforce is striving to be a leader among HBCUs in providing diverse opportunities for student-athletes,” Barnes said. “In the upcoming season, Wilberforce will be home to the only HBCU gymnastics program and the only NAIA HBCU wrestling programs. As we continue to grow, we aim to remain at the forefront of innovation in HBCU athletics.”

Barnes also announced the hiring of Kyle R. Jones as Director of Wrestling and the inaugural head coach for both programs.

Jones brings experience across the high school and collegiate levels, with a strong track record in program building and athlete development. Most recently, he served at Dunbar High School, where he helped transform the wrestling program into one of the fastest-growing in the region. After being promoted to head coach (2023–25), he led the team to consecutive City League championships while increasing roster size by nearly 300 percent.

Prior to Dunbar, Jones was the head coach at Defiance College from 2019 to 2023. There, he grew the roster by 300 percent through targeted recruiting and built pipelines with high schools, clubs, and urban wrestling programs across the Midwest. He also managed all aspects of the program, including scheduling, budgeting, fundraising, compliance, and community outreach.

Jones is also the founder and head coach of the Society Sports Wrestling Club, a travel program serving Southern and Central Ohio that focuses on expanding opportunities in urban communities and for female athletes. The club has produced a state champion, multiple state qualifiers, and the top-ranked wrestler in Ohio's 2026 class.

A former wrestler at Johnson C. Smith University and a highly ranked Ohio high school competitor, Jones emphasizes academic success, discipline, and character development in his coaching philosophy.