VESTAL, N.Y. – A new era for the Binghamton wrestling program officially began Thursday as Ryan LeBlanc was formally introduced as the eighth head wrestling coach in school history.
 
The Division of Athletics at Binghamton University held an introductory press conference for LeBlanc at the TAU Bearcat Clubroom in the Events Center. Along with LeBlanc, who returns to Upstate New York having grown up in Morrisville, N.Y., Director of Athletics Eugene Marshall, Jr., and Senior Deputy Director of Athletics/Chief Operating Officer Dennis Kalina spoke about the hire.
 
"I want to thank Gene and Dennis for entrusting such a great program to me," said LeBlanc. "When I was looking at Binghamton University, there was only a handful of programs that I would have ever left my last job for, and this was one of them. It's been on my radar since I started coaching. And in this industry, to be able to come and do what you absolutely love where you're from, I think there is no better option for me."
 
LeBlanc joins Binghamton following a successful tenure as the Head Wrestling Coach at The Citadel since 2020. In his five seasons in charge of the Bulldogs, LeBlanc helped the program reach new heights by leading them to 41 dual victories, including a school-record 14 in 2023-24. The Citadel won 22 duals against Southern Conference opponents during that span, with the Bulldogs winning six league duals in each of their last two seasons. As a result of the team's performance during the 2024-25 season, LeBlanc was named Coach of the Year by the Southern Conference.
 
"As I had a good opportunity to talk with his references and talk with people who worked with him in the past, the key words and the key phrases they kept using were 'his perseverance, he's a winner, he's going to get the job done, he's a mentor to his student-athletes, and he is very well-respected with his student-athletes, his campus, his local and his alumni communities," said Kalina. "And so hearing all those things and having many conversations with Ryan along the way, it really solidified our choice that Ryan LeBlanc was going to be the best person to lead this program forward."
 
LeBlanc takes over a Binghamton program with a strong foundation in place. In 2024-25, the Bearcats went 10-9 overall in dual competition, including a 5-3 mark against EIWA opponents. It is the first season where Binghamton won at least 10 duals since 2018-19. Brevin Cassella won the program's fifth individual EIWA championship, as he and Cory Day went on to qualify for nationals. After going 9-4 in 2023-24, the Bearcats won at least nine duals in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2017-18 and 2018-19. Those seasons, Binghamton went 12-5 and 10-3 respectively.
 
"I would like to thank Dennis Kalina and [Assistant Athletic Director/ Facilities and Operations] Matt Lane for conducting this search," said Marshall. "It was a very thorough search, quick search and effective search.
 
"Everybody had an opinion on who the coach should be, but I think they got it right," said Marshall.
 
Now that he has returned to Upstate New York, LeBlanc has his sights set on advancing the Binghamton wrestling program.
 
"I just can't wait to put my arms around this program, the kids in the program, our alumni and major stakeholders and grow it and move it forward," said LeBlanc. "And our plan is to do it the right way. To build a community around us and engage our kids, watch our kids grow and thrive in our program."
 
The Bearcats' schedule for the 2025-26 season will be announced at a later date.
 
The New York Army National Guard is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Wrestling.