Director of Athletics, Kris Swogger announced that Keiser University will add wrestling to its slate of varsity athletic programs, with intercollegiate action beginning during the 2019-20 academic year. 

"There are a lot of great high school wrestling programs in Florida, and we are excited to provide those student-athletes the opportunity to stay home and compete in the sport they love," stated Swogger.

Swogger also announced the hiring of Joe Bertolone as the first Head Coach of the Keiser University Wrestling program. Bertolone has over 40 years of experience at the high school level coaching at Archbishop McCarthy High School, Miramar High School, Cardinal Gibbons High School, Monsignor Pace High School, and Chaminade High School. 
 
In addition to his coaching resume, Bertolone was also a successful student-athlete winning back-to-back NCAA DIII titles during his collegiate wrestling career at John Carroll University.
 
A few of his accomplishments are:
 

• Broward County Coaches Association Hall of Fame 2015
• National Wrestling Hall of Fame Florida Chapter – Class of 2012
• Sun Sentinel & Miami Herald Wrestling Coach of the Year (2010)
• NCAA Division III Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee (1996)
• NCAA DIII Heavyweight Wrestling National Champion (1974 & 1975)
• John Carroll University Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee (1985)
• Wrestling Coach of the Year (1982 &1983) Hollywood SunTattler
• Wrestling Coach of the Year (1982) Ft. Lauderdale News

 
Coach Bertolone said, "I'm truly excited to lay the groundwork for the Keiser University Wrestling Program. Never stop dreaming, even after 40 years!" 

Adding wrestling will bring the total number of varsity team on campus to 25. The Seahawks will compete in the NAIA with the traditional season in the winter. Currently, in wrestling, there are 58 NAIA schools that sponsor the sport. Keiser will become the second Sun Conference institution, along with Southeastern University, to sponsor men's wrestling as an NAIA Varsity sport.