Army West Point Athletics
Wrestling
- Title:
- Assistant Wrestling Coach
- Email:
- steve.bleise@westpoint.edu
Steve Bleise joined the coaching staff in August 2023, and completed his second season in 2024-25.
Bleise’s first year in 2023-24 season was one of Army’s most storied in its recent history. Seven wrestlers placed at the EIWA Championships, with six qualifying for the NCAA Championships. The year culminated in Kansas City, Mo., with Ben Pasiuk becoming the 20th All-American in Army history, with an eighth-place finish at 174 lbs in the NCAA Championships. Pasiuk also became just the fourth four-time NCAA qualifier in program history.
In year two at West Point, Bleise helped guide seven Black Knights to the NCAA Championships, the most since 2021 and tied for the second-most in program history.
Army finished third overall at the EIWA Championships, and won the star dual over Navy for the seventh time in 11 years. Trae McDaniel also captured the EIWA championship at 149 lbs, to go along with Ethan Berginc’s 133 lb title at the Black Knight Invitational, and Gunner Filipowicz’s 165 lb and Army’s team title at the Southern Scuffle.
Bleise came to the banks of the Hudson after spending two seasons at Cal State Bakersfield as an assistant coach. In the 2022-23 season, the Roadrunners had a student-athlete at the NCAA Tournament. While at Bakersfield, Bleise coached three national qualifiers, including PAC-12 Champion Dom Ducharme at 184 lbs. as well as PAC-12 finalist and three-time national qualifier Chane Rich at 133 lbs.
Prior to being at Cal State Bakersfield, Bleise was a volunteer assistant coach at Old Dominion University until the program was cut prior to the 2020-21 season. While at Old Dominion, he helped the Monarchs to a 10-9 overall record and a 6-2 record in the MAC. Bleise also coached four national qualifiers, working closely with conference finalist and eventual two-time All-American Killian Cardinale. In the 2019-20 season, he was named the National Collegiate Open Coach of the Year.
Bleise wrestled at Northern Illinois for three seasons. He also spent two collegiate seasons at Minnesota. In his undergraduate career, he was a four-time NCAA Championship Qualifier at three different weight classes (141, 149, and 157 lbs.). He was also the 2016 Midlands finalist at 141 pounds. While at Minnesota, he earned Academic All-Big Ten Accolades and served as team captain.
