Stephanie Steiner | Assistant Photo Editor

Two head coaches at Buena Vista University (BVU) will not be returning next year. Head Wrestling Coach Sevond Cole and Head Men and Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Jeff Brennan will be finishing out this year of coaching, and from there, new coaches will be chosen to take their place.

Junior wrestler Seth Shatto gives some insight on the wrestling team’s reaction to their head coach leaving.

“I am really disappointed to see Coach Cole leave. He recruited me and many of my teammates, and he spent countless hours trying to make us better at athletics and academics,” Shatto said.

Although they will be affected by this change, they are keeping an open mind about a new coach.

“It is the same team, same goals. We are still looking to be successful as individual wrestlers and as a team,” Shatto said.

Freshman track member Madison Spear had Coach Brennan for not even a year, and he had already made a huge impact on her.

“Coach Brennan is one of the biggest reasons that I wanted to run track for BV. It’s really hard for the whole team to see him leave, but it also gives us a chance to build up as a team and become closer from it,” Spear said.

The absence of the caring and enthusiastic coach is something that is going to take time for the team to adjust to. They prepare for change and for someone knew to come in and take Coach Brennan’s place.

“It’s going to be way different, but different isn’t always bad,” Spear said.

Christyn Abaray, Director of Athletics, says that the search for new coaches to fill these positions is currently underway. They are moving as quickly as they can to have this decision finished by the end of this academic year. A committee process is used to tackle these situations. Abaray acknowledges that this is a tough situation to deal with because there is a passion for the coaches and it is never easy to see them leave. She also realizes the importance of working with the athletes.

“Every single piece of our decision making process is student centered. We are always looking for what is best for the student athletes and for BV,” Abaray said.

Graphic by Aaron Burns