Robert Morris University Announces Addition of NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling

[RAFWiki]

RMU Announces Addition of NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling

Robert Morris University announced today that it will add NCAA Division I men’s wrestling as its newest varsity athletics program, creating new opportunities for student-athletes throughout Western Pennsylvania and across the country, while building on the region’s deep wrestling tradition.

The RMU Wrestling Team is expected to begin competition in the 2027-28 academic year, with additional details regarding the program’s inaugural season, coaching staff, competition schedule, and home venue to be announced as plans are finalized.

“Western Pennsylvania’s wrestling tradition has been built by generations of outstanding athletes, dedicated coaches, and passionate families,” said Dr. Ron Moses, Vice President and Director of Athletics at RMU. “Adding men’s wrestling at Robert Morris gives talented student-athletes another opportunity to compete at the Division I level close to home while earning an outstanding education. We want young wrestlers throughout this region, and beyond, to see a future for themselves at RMU, and we’re excited to build a competitive program that our campus, alumni, and wrestling community can rally around.”

RMU’s location places the new wrestling program within a region where youth clubs, high school teams, and collegiate programs have long contributed to the sport’s success. The addition will strengthen the University’s connections with local wrestling communities while attracting student-athletes from across the country.

Men’s wrestling will become RMU’s 20th sport, reflecting the University’s continued investment in Division I athletics and opportunities for student-athletes. The program’s conference affiliation will be announced once finalized.

Prospective student-athletes, coaches and supporters can follow RMUColonials.com for program updates, including coaching announcements and future recruiting information.

[Idaho]

Great news! Hopefully they can sustain. Another opportunity in PA is a plus. If we could just get another one out in CA...and many other states. 

[flyingcement]

I am cautiously optimistic

[romeo07]

Don't get me wrong, this is good news. That being said I wish these new programs were popping up in areas that would better help expand the popularity of the sport. The Citadel is the southernmost D1 wrestling program. In no way is that acceptable.

[Rassling]

1 hour ago, RAFWiki said:

RMU Announces Addition of NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling

Robert Morris University announced today that it will add NCAA Division I men’s wrestling as its newest varsity athletics program, creating new opportunities for student-athletes throughout Western Pennsylvania and across the country, while building on the region’s deep wrestling tradition.

The RMU Wrestling Team is expected to begin competition in the 2027-28 academic year, with additional details regarding the program’s inaugural season, coaching staff, competition schedule, and home venue to be announced as plans are finalized.

“Western Pennsylvania’s wrestling tradition has been built by generations of outstanding athletes, dedicated coaches, and passionate families,” said Dr. Ron Moses, Vice President and Director of Athletics at RMU. “Adding men’s wrestling at Robert Morris gives talented student-athletes another opportunity to compete at the Division I level close to home while earning an outstanding education. We want young wrestlers throughout this region, and beyond, to see a future for themselves at RMU, and we’re excited to build a competitive program that our campus, alumni, and wrestling community can rally around.”

RMU’s location places the new wrestling program within a region where youth clubs, high school teams, and collegiate programs have long contributed to the sport’s success. The addition will strengthen the University’s connections with local wrestling communities while attracting student-athletes from across the country.

Men’s wrestling will become RMU’s 20th sport, reflecting the University’s continued investment in Division I athletics and opportunities for student-athletes. The program’s conference affiliation will be announced once finalized.

Prospective student-athletes, coaches and supporters can follow RMUColonials.com for program updates, including coaching announcements and future recruiting information.

[RAFWiki]

8 minutes ago, romeo07 said:

Don't get me wrong, this is good news. That being said I wish these new programs were popping up in areas that would better help expand the popularity of the sport. The Citadel is the southernmost D1 wrestling program. In no way is that acceptable.

Chad Bronstein said in an interview a few months back that one of his goals with the RAF Clubs initiative is to open enough wrestling academies in Texas to cultivate talent so that a D1 school goes "ok, we give up" and starts their own wrestling program

[ScottishSteel]

22 minutes ago, romeo07 said:

Don't get me wrong, this is good news. That being said I wish these new programs were popping up in areas that would better help expand the popularity of the sport. The Citadel is the southernmost D1 wrestling program. In no way is that acceptable.

By my count this makes 13 of 79 programs in PA . . .
 

[Jason Bryant]

7 minutes ago, ScottishSteel said:

By my count this makes 13 of 79 programs in PA . . .
 

That would be correct. 

[TNwrestling]

38 minutes ago, romeo07 said:

Don't get me wrong, this is good news. That being said I wish these new programs were popping up in areas that would better help expand the popularity of the sport. The Citadel is the southernmost D1 wrestling program. In no way is that acceptable.

[romeo07]

@TNwrestling, what D1 program is more southern?

[Voice of the Quakers]

27 minutes ago, romeo07 said:

Don't get me wrong, this is good news. That being said I wish these new programs were popping up in areas that would better help expand the popularity of the sport. The Citadel is the southernmost D1 wrestling program. In no way is that acceptable.

Completely understand your sentiment here. A couple thoughts...

RMU is not doing this out of the goodness of Its heart. This is just one of many small colleges struggling with enrollment. Next year they'll have 20-30 more tuition-paying undergrads (I'm guessing the athletic aid offered to wrestlers will be nil) because they are fielding a sport that is very popular locally, and most kids don't go to college too far from home. Plus, reasonable competition, starting with the PSAC schools, is already nearby to keep costs low.

Speaking of nearby, could this move encourage more schools in the Horizon League to consider adding wrestling? Cleveland State's history with wrestling is checkered, but would they or Youngstown State, Wright State, Oakland (MI), IU-Indy, Purdue-Fort Wayne, Green Bay, Milwaukee, etc., be more willing to add wrestling now that one league school has jumped in, particularly if RMU is successful? Tell me how their enrollment is trending and/or how many more tuition dollars they want to funnel to pay for their men's basketball team and I will give you those odds.

I live in FLA - looking forward to seeing Penn at IMG next month - and I would kill for ANY NCAA school here to add wrestling. I'm sure our friends at the NWCA are using an "all of the above" program to get new schools to add wrestling to their athletics program wherever they are. But, for now, encouraging the RMUs of the world to add wresting and seeing the sport grow school by school from the hotbeds out may be our best bet over the next 5-10 years. 

[jchapman]

8 minutes ago, Voice of the Quakers said:

Completely understand your sentiment here. A couple thoughts...

RMU is not doing this out of the goodness of Its heart. This is just one of many small colleges struggling with enrollment. Next year they'll have 20-30 more tuition-paying undergrads (I'm guessing the athletic aid offered to wrestlers will be nil) because they are fielding a sport that is very popular locally, and most kids don't go to college too far from home. Plus, reasonable competition, starting with the PSAC schools, is already nearby to keep costs low.

Speaking of nearby, could this move encourage more schools in the Horizon League to consider adding wrestling? Cleveland State's history with wrestling is checkered, but would they or Youngstown State, Wright State, Oakland (MI), IU-Indy, Purdue-Fort Wayne, Green Bay, Milwaukee, etc., be more willing to add wrestling now that one league school has jumped in, particularly if RMU is successful? Tell me how their enrollment is trending and/or how many more tuition dollars they want to funnel to pay for their men's basketball team and I will give you those odds.

I live in FLA - looking forward to seeing Penn at IMG next month - and I would kill for ANY NCAA school here to add wrestling. I'm sure our friends at the NWCA are using an "all of the above" program to get new schools to add wrestling to their athletics program wherever they are. But, for now, encouraging the RMUs of the world to add wresting and seeing the sport grow school by school from the hotbeds out may be our best bet over the next 5-10 years. 

UW-Green Bay is exploring adding wrestling:

https://news.uwgb.edu/phlash/mediacoverage/03/19/uw-green-bay-exploring-addition-of-mens-wrestling-program-wfrv/

[2001Hokie]

1 hour ago, romeo07 said:

@TNwrestling, what D1 program is more southern?

I think it's close with ASU and Little Rock, but I think Citadel is the winner still

[TNwrestling]

1 hour ago, romeo07 said:

@TNwrestling, what D1 program is more southern?

Chattanooga

[jchapman]

1 minute ago, TNwrestling said:

Chattanooga

more southern as in culture, or closer to the equator?

[romeo07]

8 hours ago, TNwrestling said:

Chattanooga

UTC technically isn't even in second place.

[romeo07]

8 hours ago, jchapman said:

more southern as in culture, or closer to the equator?

Is this where I have to remind everyone that The Citadel fired the first shots of the civil war?

[1032004]

44 minutes ago, romeo07 said:

UTC technically isn't even in second place.

Arizona State?

[romeo07]

19 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

Arizona State?

Nope. ASU has a higher latitude.

[1032004]

7 hours ago, romeo07 said:

Nope. ASU has a higher latitude.

Than UTC?  I thought it was Citadel then ASU

[romeo07]

4 hours ago, 1032004 said:

Than UTC?  I thought it was Citadel then ASU

From south to north it goes The Citadel, ASU, then UTC.

[2001Hokie]

2 hours ago, romeo07 said:

From south to north it goes The Citadel, ASU, then UTC.

Is UTC before Little Rock?

[flyingcement]

Southern:
1. Citadel
2. Arizona State
3. Presbyterian
4. Little Rock
5. Chattanooga

Northern:
1. North Dakota State
2. Minnesota
3. Oregon State
4. South Dakota State
5. Central Michigan

Eastern: 
1. Harvard
2. Brown
3. Sacred Heart
4. Long Island
5. Hofstra

Western:
1. Oregon State
2. Stanford
3. Cal Poly
4. CSU Bakersfield
5. Arizona State

[romeo07]

6 hours ago, flyingcement said:

Southern:
1. Citadel
2. Arizona State
3. Presbyterian
4. Little Rock
5. Chattanooga

Northern:
1. North Dakota State
2. Minnesota
3. Oregon State
4. South Dakota State
5. Central Michigan

Eastern: 
1. Harvard
2. Brown
3. Sacred Heart
4. Long Island
5. Hofstra

Western:
1. Oregon State
2. Stanford
3. Cal Poly
4. CSU Bakersfield
5. Arizona State

Thank you. Got tired of googling new latitudes every time a different college was mentioned.

[Nak21]

Well certainly great news!! Let’s hope we see many more.

One thing, it’s getting some print here, schools adding wrestling to boost enrollment, revenue, etc. I genuinely ask, cuz I’m not sure I buy that.
Does adding 20-30 guys, who are likely not paying full freight (if there’s no full athletic ride, I’m sure like the D3 route they’re getting some grant and aid thrown in to sweeten the deal) really do much for enrollment and the revenue stream at a school, even a small one? Seems like such a drop in the bucket for both, that it’s a nothing burger.