<b>Howdy &amp; aloha! We are HERE, you are THERE, and you’re now rockin’ with the best!This episode goes belly to belly 🤼‍♂️ with Coach Ryan LeBlanc, the 8th Head Coach in Binghamton University Wrestling history, fresh off building The Citadel into a SoCon power and now bringing that blueprint back home to Upstate New York. We talk real D1 program-building — not a press conference, not coach-speak — a full ABR deep dive on:</b><br /><ul><li>what LeBlanc learned turning The Citadel around (COVID roster chaos → conference champs)<br /><br /></li><li>how he’s implementing culture + systems at Binghamton (EIWA)<br /><br /></li><li>scholarship growth, staff support, and what’s different at a high-academic public university<br /><br /></li><li>Northeast vs. South wrestling culture, club wrestling, and what he looks for in recruits<br /><br /></li><li>how he navigates the transfer portal (and when it’s actually a “slam dunk”)<br /><br /></li><li>leadership lessons, daily gratitude rituals, and the “Final Four” lifestyle segment<br /><br /></li></ul><b>If you’re a wrestler, parent, coach, or fan who wants the behind-the-scenes of building a Division I program the right way — this one’s for you.✅ Subscribe on YouTube + follow us on IG: @aireybrosradio<br />☕ Support the show (Value for Value): buymeacoffee.com/aireybros<br />🏃 Fueled by Black Sheep Endurance Coaching: blacksheependurance.comABR 422 Show Notes (with timestamps)Episode: ABR 422<br />Guest: Coach Ryan LeBlanc — Head Wrestling Coach, Binghamton University (EIWA)<br />Originally streamed live: Nov 25, 2025 (YouTube)<br />Now available: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere you get podcastsTimestamps0:00 — ABR open: “Howdy &amp; aloha…” + Value-for-Value mission<br />1:03 — Coach LeBlanc intro: Citadel rebuild → Binghamton hire<br />2:05 — Where to follow Binghamton Wrestling + Bearcat Wrestling Club<br />3:15 — Why Binghamton was one of the few jobs he’d leave for (family + timing)<br />4:10 — “Hero’s journey” coming home to Upstate NY<br />5:06 — How close is home now? Family, balance, Thanksgiving feels<br />6:43 — Lessons from The Citadel that transfer to Binghamton: culture + consistency<br />8:47 — Taking over an existing roster: maximizing what’s there + making changes<br />10:01 — Proof of concept: development happens in the room first<br />11:21 — Resources differences: scholarship increase, recruiting footprint, full staff<br />13:07 — Hired Sept 11: tough transition + building relationships fast<br />14:35 — Early season lineup questions, injuries, and December dual targets<br />15:51 — Staying healthy: training year-round + wrestling style + smart decisions<br />18:43 — Storytime: Jeff Boyd + individualized athlete approach<br />19:35 — Leadership tip: building relationships with a new team/program<br />21:28 — “Oil and water” athlete → captain: the Ethan Willis story<br />24:08 — Head coach as CEO: systems, decision-making, delegation<br />26:24 — Geography shift: travel, snowstorms, routines, and rebuilding systems<br />27:40 — Binghamton academics: student body, selectivity, majors, and fit<br />29:00 — Recruiting footprint: NY base + pulling nationally (FL, NC, etc.)<br />31:37 — Northeast vs. South wrestling culture + club wrestling impact<br />35:54 — Recruiting philosophy: right people &gt; hype; avoiding “spoon-fed” types<br />36:06 — Early recruiting results: “5-for-5” visit weekend + momentum<br />37:46 — Scholarship clarification: 40 added across the department (not just wrestling)<br />39:25 — Jersey pipeline: upcoming NJ visits + roster notes<br />40:09 — Why Florida can be a strategic recruiting state (no D1 programs)<br />41:18 — Winter weather + why leaving home for college is healthy<br />43:25 — Team “ecosystem” synergy: mixing personalities + experiences<br />44:03 — Learning campus fast: assistants as Binghamton alums + authenticity<br />45:07 — Becoming the boss of returning staff: leadership + trust<br />47:44 — National Duals thoughts + watching as a coach vs. as a fan<br />51:01 — Transfer portal philosophy: “Don’t love it… but not above it”<br />53:51 — Final Four: coffee order, daily rituals, planning habits<br />56:12 — What he’s listening to: audiobooks, Wayne Dyer, stress/manifesting<br />1:00:33 — Thanksgiving traditions, food, and family cooking<br />1:02:29 — Upstate NY essentials: pizza + regional food spots<br />1:04:13 — Closing: Bearcats love + ABR upcoming episodes</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>💬 QUESTION: If you’re a recruit… what matters most to you right now: culture, scholarships, academics, or location?</b><br /><b></b><br /><b>Stay Connected!</b><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/binghamtonwrestle/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><b>Binghamton Wrestling on Instagram</b></a><br /><a href="https://x.com/BearcatsWrestle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><b>Bearcat Wrestling on X </b></a><br /><br /><b><a href="https://binghamtonbearcats.com/sports/wrestling" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Binghamton Bearcats Mainsite </a></b><br /><br /><br /><br />Love Airey Bros Radio? We deliver raw, no-BS conversations with elite coaches, athletes, and insiders from wrestling, running, ultrarunning, and strength culture — the voices and programs you won't hear on mainstream ESPN.Your support via Buy Me a Coffee keeps us caffeinated, producing consistent episodes, and spotlighting the under-the-radar stories that fuel your training and passion.Buy us a coffee today — every bit directly powers more high-level content straight to you! <b><a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/aireybros" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">☕ Value for Value</a></b><br /><b><br />🏃 <a href="https://www.blacksheependurance.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fueled by Black Sheep Endurance Coaching</a><br />📲 Follow: @aireybrosradio<br /></b><br /><br /><br /><br />