Alijah Jeffery resigns as women’s wrestling coach

By Whitley Reder

After coaching for just two seasons, Alijah Jeffery will be stepping down from his position as CSC women’s wrestling head coach. 

CSC Athletic Director Joel R. Smith announced on Monday that Jeffery will resign to take a position at Fort Hays State University, in Hays, Kansas. 

“It brings tears to my eyes, because it’s hard to even imagine going into next season without him as our head coach,” CSC wrestler Taylor Lindstrom, sophomore of Rapid City, South Dakota, said, “What Jeffery did for the women’s wrestling program is truly incredible and I wish there was a greater way to say how much we appreciate what he has created for the team and the program.”

Jeffery joined the CSC women’s wrestling coaching staff in August 2021 as the inaugural head coach of the program. 

Jeffery set a standard for the program, sending four wrestlers to nationals in both the last year’s season and this year’s season respectively. 

Jeffery coached Kayley Garcia, freshman of Vista, California, to be the team’s first NCWWC regional champion wrestler.

CSC had a 6-2 dual record in 2022-23, including a 25-23 win over then NCWWC second-ranked University of Saskatchewan, of Saskatoon, Canada. The two losses came against Colorado Mesa, of Grand Junction, which finished fourth in the NCWWC Championships as a team. 

“For now, we are all very excited and happy for him and hope he has safe travels and a great time working over at Fort Hays,” Lindstrom said, “and Fort Hays better be ready for him when he gets there because they are definitely getting an amazing coach!”

The search for the next head coach of CSC women’s wrestling has already begun.