By: David Macaulay-Smith I Published: April 29, 2025
Kean University is expanding its athletics program by adding men’s and women’s wrestling to its NCAA sports lineup beginning this fall. The move marks the return of men’s wrestling nearly three decades after the program was discontinued, and the historic launch of a women’s team for the first time in school history.
With wrestling, Kean will offer an encompassing 22 NCAA athletic teams, including its varsity eSports program. The decision comes in response to growing statewide interest in wrestling and the rising momentum of women’s wrestling at both high school and collegiate levels.
“It is a special time for Kean Athletics as we make history by adding women’s wrestling to our department, creating another opportunity for young women to follow their passion on the collegiate level,” said Kelly Williams, director of Athletics and Recreation, in a statement published on Kean University’s website.
Kean is joining a national rise of collegiate athletic departments choosing to instate women’s wrestling. Currently, there are 146 collegiate women’s wrestling programs and 77 clubs across each athletic competition level, with these numbers only growing as Kean and many more join the momentum for the upcoming academic year.
In addition to the inaugural women’s team, Kean also plans to reinstate its historic men’s team after nearly thirty years. The Cougars have storied success on the mats, with Frank Croce claiming the university’s first-ever national championship title in 1991 at the NCAA Division III National Championship in the 142-pound weight class.
“At the same time, we’re reestablishing our men’s wrestling program. This marks the continued expansion of sports offerings, reinforcing the university’s commitment to diverse athletic opportunities for student-athletes,” the statement continued.
Kean alumnus Chris DiSanto, an experienced college coach and former Cougar, will lead both programs.
DiSanto calls the opportunity “unimaginable.”
“This is where I started my college career, and to come full circle and build a program from the ground up is an incredible opportunity. The support I’ve received from the administration has been unbelievable, and I’m excited to get started. It’s coming full circle, going someplace that’s familiar to me,” said DiSanto.
DiSanto plans to build a strong foundation for both teams by recruiting student-athletes who excel in the classroom and on the mat. His focus is on finding students who are dedicated to their studies and wrestling.
“I’m looking for good students, somebody who wants to go to school, not just wrestle,” DiSanto explains.
“I want students who are dedicated to being in the books and going to class, because those are the coachable ones who will come to practice, listen, and work hard. I want hardcore wrestlers, but at the same time, I want hardcore students too.”
As he begins recruiting for the programs, DiSanto is focused on finding student-athletes who share his philosophy of prioritizing academics as well as being disciplined.
His approach emphasizes controlling what can be controlled, such as being in the correct stance for the whole match, clearing ties, and scoring.
“Those are the things that will get us geared up for our national qualifier,” DiSanto says. “I try not to focus on winning so much because that’s outcome-based.”
DiSanto acknowledges that launching a brand-new wrestling program comes with challenges, including managing schedules and getting students to buy into his approach.
“My biggest challenge is making sure we’re not overlapping schedules and that we can have our coaches at all the events,” DiSanto notes.
“Getting kids to buy into what we’re doing, and not worrying about winning, is also a challenge, but I’ve always seemed to overcome that challenge by the end of the season.”
To balance coaching both teams, DiSanto plans to hold split practice sessions. Men will practice from 5:30 to 7 p.m., and women will practice from 7 to 9 p.m., or vice versa. Each team will have 90 minutes to practice, which DiSanto believes is a good balance to ensure both teams receive the needed attention they need.
DiSanto emphasizes the importance of team culture, which he defines as “what you bring to the practice room.” He is focused on building a culture of winning, dedication, and commitment on and off the mat.
“We’re student-first, that’s always been my philosophy,” DiSanto said.
“You’re there to go to school, and wrestling is just the added bonus that the school offers for you. I really am focused on school first, I really want retention, I want kids to come back every year with a better GPA and a better attitude,” DiSanto explained.
As Kean University prepares to launch its men’s and women’s wrestling programs, DiSanto has a message for potential recruits, students, and the Kean community:
“Come to Kean. We’re building a culture of winning, dedication, and commitment on the wrestling mats as well as in the classroom. This is what we’re trying to build here, a culture of excellence in everything we do. We’re student-first, and we’re going to make sure that our students are successful in everything they do.”
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