Scott Stever is entering his 18th year as the head coach of RIT wrestling and his 25th season working with the program. Over the past 45 years, he has been highly involved in collegiate wrestling, serving as an assistant coach at the University at Buffalo for 22 years and as an assistant under former RIT wrestling coach Earl Fuller for seven seasons (1989-95).
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Stever reached the highest honor for an NCAA wrestling coach in 2014, earning induction into the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III Wrestling Coaches' Association Hall of Fame.
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Last season, Stever led the Tigers to seven wins, while Brad Mayville finished third overall at the NCAA Championships at 149 lbs, and Tory Cain finished fifth nationally at 174 lbs. Both men were national All-Americans and along with Nicholas Greenquist, garnered Academic All-American honors.
In September 2007, Stever was inducted into the New York Chapter of the National Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. He was previously inducted into the University of Buffalo, Corning-Painted Post High School, and New York State wrestling Halls of Fame.
Stever led the Tigers to nine dual wins, most in 32 years at the university in 2011-12. In 2010-11, he coached Mike McInally to his second runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships. McInally, who placed second at 133 lbs., was 141-20 in four seasons.
In 2009, Stever’s squad had its most successful finish at the NCAA Tournament since 1998, finishing tied for 12th with 28 points. McInally recorded a national runner-up finish at 125 lbs. and Luke Baum placed fifth at 141 lbs. Both men earned All-American honors. It was the second time during Stever’s tenure at RIT in which two wrestlers garnered All-American accolades in the same season. Baum finished his RIT career with a school record 146 wins.
Stever’s squad was very successful during the 2007-08 season, as Baum and McInally made the NCAA Division III Tournament and two other wrestlers were named as alternates in the tournament.
Stever has coached eight All-Americans as head coach of the Tigers, including the late Tony Wallace, a three-time selection.
A native of Corning, N.Y., Stever had a successful wrestling career, first at Northside and East High Schools in Corning, and then at Corning Community College and the University at Buffalo. A regional junior college champion, Stever qualified for two NJCAA national tournaments before transferring to UB in 1968. As a wrestler for the Bulls, he captured six Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Freestyle titles, the first New York State Collegiate Championship at 142 lbs. in 1970, and qualified for two NCAA National Championships.
While a standout on the mats during his wrestling career, Stever has excelled in the coaching ranks, coaching 50 All-American selections as well as guiding UB to the 1977-78 NCAA Division III Championship as an assistant coach.
Stever has also co-authored a book on the sport of wrestling with Ed Michael from the University at Buffalo.
