LAKELAND, Fla.—Southeastern University wrestling coach
Brandon Jorge announced his resignation Wednesday after two years at the helm of the program.
Jorge had been with the program since its start back in 2015, helping the Fire qualify a total of 34 wrestlers for the national championships over the past six seasons.
"I have always preached to our team about life after wrestling and I felt like my number one priority was always to prepare them for life after wrestling," said Jorge. "I want them to be a good husband, be a good father, and be good at their jobs and I felt like it was time for me to take my own advice to give more attention to my wife and my daughter and start a career in a different field that allows me to give every opportunity and extra hour I have in the day to them."
Saturday, Jorge got to coach under the spotlight and help Southeastern win its first two national championships with
Andreus Bond in the 149-pound bracket and
Kyle Kirkham at 165.
The Lakeland native and three-time FHSAA state champion at Lake Gibson High School was integral in building the first college wrestling program in his home state in 30 years, and this past season, bringing the national qualifier to Lakeland last month where
Jesse Pryor won the heavyweight bracket.
"There's really no better way to go out than to end my coaching career at Southeastern than with a conference title and a national title," said Jorge. "There are a million good memories from the past two years with these guys finding a way to persevere through adversity and win."
In dual meets over the past two seasons, the Fire were 24-12 under Jorge. This included a program-record 17 dual meet wins during the 2019-20 season and an eighth-place finish at the NWCA National Team Duals. Southeastern placed in the Top 10 at the NAIA National Championships each year under Jorge.
During the 2020-21 season, the Fire scored a 22-14 win over The Citadel, marking the program's first victory over an NCAA Division I program.
"Brandon has done a great job with our wrestling program," said Director of Athletics
Drew Watson. "He has invested deeply in the young men on the team personally and academically and has a high level of respect in the room. While I am sad to see him go, I wish him the best as he focuses on his family."
Jorge helped tutor two two-time All-Americans in
Ethan Owen, who was the programs first No. 1 ranked wrestler in program history during the 2019-20 season and
Dylan Chatterton.
Off the mat, the Fire were ninth in the NWCA NAIA Academic Rankings, and had two Academic All-Americans in Chatterton and Owen, and four NWCA Scholar All-Americans.
A national search for Jorge's successor is underway.
