Wilberforce University Director of Athletics Roosevelt Barnes announced the addition of men's and women's wrestling to the department's athletic offerings beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, the university announced today. (May 21, 2026). 

Following the recent addition of intercollegiate flag football, Wilberforce will now sponsor 14 varsity sports. The expansion continues the university's commitment to broadening opportunities for student-athletes while positioning the institution as a national leader among HBCU athletic programs. 

Wilberforce will become the only NAIA HBCU to sponsor wrestling and one of just three HBCUs nationwide to sponsor men's wrestling, joining Morgan State University and Delaware State University. The women's wrestling program will join Delaware State as one of only two HBCUs in the country sponsoring women's wrestling. 

"Wilberforce is striving to be one of the HBCU leaders in providing diverse opportunities for student-athletes across the country," said Barnes. "In the upcoming season, Wilberforce will be home to the only HBCU gymnastics program and the only NAIA HBCU wrestling programs. As we continue building as an institution, we look to remain at the forefront of growth and innovation in HBCU athletics." 

Barnes also announced the hiring of Kyle R. Jones as Director of Wrestling and the inaugural head coach for both the men's and women's wrestling programs. 

Jones brings an extensive background in collegiate and high school wrestling leadership, program development, and student-athlete mentorship to Wilberforce. He most recently served at Dunbar High School, where he helped transform the program into one of the fastest-growing wrestling programs in the region. After serving as an assistant coach, Jones was elevated to head coach from 2023-2025 and led the program to consecutive City League Championships while overseeing nearly 300 percentroster growth. His leadership emphasized accountability, discipline, and athlete development, helping beginner wrestlers grow into competitive performers through structured training and mentorship. 

Prior to his time at Dunbar, Jones served as head wrestling coach at Defiance College from 2019-2023, where he built and managed a collegiate program focused on student-athlete success and enrollment growth. During his tenure, he increased roster size by 300 percent through strategic recruiting efforts and established recruiting pipelines with high schools, clubs, and urban wrestling programs throughout the Midwest. He also oversaw all aspects of program operations, including scheduling, budgeting, fundraising, compliance, and community engagement. 

In addition to his scholastic and collegiate coaching experience, Jones is the founder and head coach of the Society Sports Wrestling Club in Southern and Central Ohio, a travel program dedicated to expanding wrestling opportunities in urban communities and among female athletes. The club has already produced a state champion, multiple state qualifiers, and the No. 1-ranked wrestler in Ohio for 2026. 

A former collegiate wrestler at Johnson C. Smith University and a former Ohio high school standout ranked No. 2 in the state, Jones is deeply committed to the HBCU tradition of education, empowerment, and opportunity. His coaching philosophy centers on developing well-rounded student-athletes who excel academically, compete with discipline, and lead with character both on and off the mat.