SARASOTA, Fla. — New College of Florida has appointed Koby Reyes as the inaugural head coach of its men's and women's wrestling programs. Reyes will lead the launch of the programs as the Mighty Banyans prepare to begin competition during the winter of the 2026–27 season.
Reyes arrives in Sarasota with a strong background as both a high-level coach and former NCAA Division I wrestler, bringing the kind of experience and momentum that gives New College an immediate foundation as it continues building its athletics department within the NAIA and The Sun Conference.
A rising name in the wrestling coaching ranks, Reyes most recently served as the head women's wrestling coach at Montreat College (N.C.), where he led all aspects of the program, including recruiting, training, scheduling, and academic oversight. Under his leadership, Montreat produced seven National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-Americans and three national qualifiers, reflecting his ability to develop student-athletes both competitively and academically.
Before taking over at Montreat, Reyes spent three seasons at Southeastern University as an assistant men's wrestling coach, helping elevate one of the NAIA's premier programs to sustained national success. During his time with the Fire, Southeastern produced 35 national qualifiers, 17 All-Americans, and two national champions, while finishing third, fourth, and fourth nationally in consecutive NAIA championship appearances.
He also served as an assistant coach at Arizona Christian University, where he helped guide the program's first All-American and assisted five wrestlers in qualifying for the NAIA national tournament.
"We are excited to welcome
Koby Reyes to New College of Florida to lead our men's and women's wrestling programs," said Vice President of Athletics Mariano Jimenez. "Koby brings the kind of energy, credibility, and competitive mindset that fits exactly what we are building here. He has been part of winning programs, has coached at a high level, and understands how to develop student-athletes both on the mat and as people.
"We believe he is the right leader to help establish a strong culture for wrestling at New College and to move these programs forward in a big way."
Reyes said the opportunity to launch a program from the ground up is one he embraces with excitement and purpose.
"I am joyous to be selected as the first Head Coach for New College of Florida Wrestling," Reyes said. "I am thankful to God for this opportunity and the support of my family throughout the hiring process. I also want to thank Vice President of Athletics and Athletic Director Mariano Jimenez Jr. and the search committee for believing in my vision for NCF Wrestling. I look forward to building a culture centered on an uncommon standard of competitive excellence in the classroom, on the mat, and in the community."
Reyes' credentials also extend to his own time as a competitor. He wrestled at three NCAA Division I programs during his college career, competing at Arizona State, Boise State, and Purdue, where he finished his collegiate career from 2017 to 2019. That experience across multiple respected programs gives him a firsthand perspective on what it takes to compete and develop at a high level.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Purdue University and later completed his MBA in Sports Management from Southeastern University.
With Reyes now in place, New College will begin building its wrestling rosters immediately ahead of the inaugural 2026-27 season. His combination of recruiting experience, national-level coaching success, and firsthand experience as an elite wrestler makes him a compelling choice to launch the next chapter of Mighty Banyans athletics.
