WRE: Assistant Coach Matt Lackey's Interview On Takedown Radio

Head Assistant Coach Matt Lackey Announcement Today

I am extremely excited to announce the hiring of Matt Lackey as our newest member of the UB Wrestling Coaching Staff. Matt will fill the head assistant coaching position at UB effective immediately.


Coach Lackey brings a great deal of experience to the program in both the collegiate and international styles of wrestling. As a collegiate wrestler, Matt was a 2003 Division I National Champion, 3X all-American, Academic all-American and Big Ten Male Athlete-of-the-Year at the University of Illinois. He is a two-time Olympic Trial qualifier and took fourth at the 2008 U.S. Senior Nationals. An Illinois native, Lackey won two high school state championships. He brings to our program experience, intensity, intelligence and is a person with great character.

I have had the privilege to know Matt for many years and I am confident that he is a great fit for our staff and for our wrestlers.

This is an exciting time for UB wrestling and Coach Lackey will surely help our program take the next step at the national level. I would like to welcome Matt and his family to UB!



Coach Jim Beichner

2nd Visit Done

Some of you have already guessed correctly that our second candidate visiting UB this weekend was 2003 NCAA Champion and 3X all-American from the University of Illinois Matt Lackey.

We had a great visit with Matt and his family. I will keep you informed of future visitors or developments as soon as they happen.

GO BULLS!!

Assistant Coaching Update

We have our second candidate coming to visit Buffalo this weekend to look at the Head Assistant Coaching position.  I won't tell you his name just yet... but I will give you a peek at some of his credentials.

He was a three time Division I all-American - a Division I National Champion - an academic all-American and Big Ten male athlete of the year.  Our candidate is also a solid person with great values and a tremendous work ethic. 

We have a very deep candidate pool to work with and there is a tremendous amount of interest in our program.  Great things are happening here in Buffalo!

Coach Beichner

Coach Beasley

As many of you already konw, Coach Beasley is taking a new coaching job and will not longer serve as our assistant wrestling coach effective immediatley. I would like to personally thank Coach Frank Beasley for the great work that he did while serving as our assistant coach here at UB. I am sad to see Frank leave the program but wish both him and his wife Lyndsey the best of luck in their new endeavors. I would also like to thank Lyndsey for the work that she was doing on our blog and twitter accounts. Lyndsey was a valuable resource while here in Buffalo and she will also be missed!

We are currently interviewing replacements for Frank and I am happy to say that we have great candidates interested in the position. Just today, a well qualified candidate spent the day on campus and loved what he saw. With all of the new renovations and recent success, It is easy to show the candidates how committed UB is to the wrestsling program.

I will be bringing in additional candidates as we narrow down the field. Many great things are happening with the UB Wrestling program and we will not lose our momentum. I hope to announce the hiring of a new assistant coach over the next couple of weeks... please check back soon for more information.

Coach Jim Beichner

Late Summer Thoughts from Justin Heiserman

Incoming freshman Justin Heiserman reflects on his summer training as he prepares to enter his first year at UB. 

" I am looking forward to wrestling for Buffalo.  I have been wrestling at my high school with some of my old high school team mates, and running to stay in shape."


Heiserman was a 3x Michigan State Finalist, 2x Michigan State Champ, and ranked in the Top 10 at 189 lbs.

Late Summer Thoughts from Jake Waste

Incoming freshman Jake Waste reflects on his summer training as he prepares to enter his first year at UB.  


"I think this summer what I did the most to prepare for UB was just train. There is nothing better that will get you ready for college or any level than just training. My coach’s would always say “practice makes perfect”, as a kid I would just blow it off. When you start to get older and your muscle memory really starts to kick in you realize that it is a completely true statement. With that being said all I did was train and compete all summer. Focusing on the minor details and working on every move I have. Another big thing that came into my mind was this is a whole new level. While wrestling in high school you will get your normal “puds”, but in college everyone is a D1 wrestler. You have to train like you are wrestling one of the top ranked guys at your weight. In my mind if you do that you will succeed with all of your goals."


Waste is a Top 100 recruit and a five-time National Champion. 

Late Summer Thoughts from Arik Robinson

Incoming freshman Arik Robinson reflects on his summer training as he prepares to enter his first year at UB.  

"I have been doing a lot of lifting to prepare for the upcoming season. I am really looking forward to having new practice partners to practice with and having a new coaching staff to help me be more successful."


Robinson is a 4-x NY State Champ and Top 100 Recruit.

2011-2012 Wrestling Schedule

Link to Buffalo Athletic Website here.