Jeff SilveiraFrom 2005-07, Silveira was an assistant wrestling coach at West Valley College before moving to Skyline College for the 2007-08 season. At the community college level, Silveira coached 27 individual state qualifiers, nine individual state place winners, four individual CCCAA All-Americans, and one individual state champion.
Silveira coached at Saint Teresa High School from 1995-2003 and at The Kings Academy High School from 2004-05. At the prep level, Silveira coached 11 individual league champions, 16 individual section place winners, 13 individual state qualifiers, four individual state place winners, and two individual high school All-Americans.
Efren Ceballos and Stephen Neal return to the CSUB program. Ceballos remains as the Roadrunner volunteer assistant coach. Ceballos is in his 11th season as a member of the Bakersfield wrestling program. He serves as a volunteer assistant coach for the Roadrunners this season.
Ceballos is one of five four-time NCAA Division I qualifiers in the CSU Bakersfield program (2002-05). He earned All-American honors as a junior at 125 pounds. Ceballos was a four-time Pac-12 place winner, finishing second at 133 pounds as a freshman, second at 125 as a sophomore, fourth at 125 as a junior, and second at 125 as a senior. Ceballos is seventh in school history in career wins with 114.
Neal returns as the alumni relations coordinator. Neal, a 1999 CSUB graduate, is arguably the greatest wrestler in the program's history. Despite only placing fourth at the CIF State Championships as a high school senior, Neal bought into the CSUB program and developed into the world's top wrestler.
He completed his career at CSUB as a four-time All-American and a two-time undefeated NCAA Division I champion. Neal went on to sweep through the world's best competition in 1999. He started by becoming the 1999 U.S. Freestyle champion, and continued to win the Pan-American Games and, eventually, the world championship the same year.
For his efforts in 1999, Neal was named the U.S. Olympic Committee Wrestler of the Year and the FILA International Freestyle Wrestler of the Year.
Despite his wrestling ability, the call of the NFL was too appealing, and Neal took a shot in football even though he hadn't played the sport since high school. Originally picked up by New England, Neal spent a short time in Philadelphia before being snatched away again by the Patriots where he has found a home at the right guard position.
Neal was picked as a preseason starter on the offensive line in 2003, but an early-season shoulder injury ended his season prematurely. After a successful rehab stint, he became a regular starter in 2004. Neal was part of three Super Bowl Champions with the Patriots and retired in March 2011 after 10 years with the team.
Rivera has added two new members of the staff. Sean Boyle comes to CSU Bakersfield from Tennessee-Chattanooga where he served as a graduate assistant for the Mocs from 2015-16. Boyle, a NHSCA Senior National Champion for national powerhouse Blair Academy, began his collegiate wrestling career at the University of Michigan.
Boyle wrestled for Michigan from 2009-14 where he was a two-time NCAA Division I qualifier and a two-time Big 10 place winner. He was awarded Michigan's Jeff Reese Most Improved Award (2011) and Michigan's Steve Fraser Mental Toughness Award (2013) during his time in Ann Arbor.
After graduating and earning his undergraduate degree from Michigan in 2014. Boyle transferred to Chattanooga prior to the start of the 2014-15 season and was granted a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA. Boyle won the 2015 Southern Conference Championship at 125 pounds and was 2015 Southern Conference Wrestler of the Year. He qualified for his third NCAA Tournament and ended the season with a 32-7 record. Boyle's combined collegiate wrestling record was 121-60. Boyle completed graduate school at UTC last Spring, earning a master's in secondary education.
Former Roadrunner Reuben Franklin joins the CSUB staff as the Roadrunner director of operations. Franklin graduated from CSU Bakersfield last Spring after earning a degree in biology. Franklin capped off a successful CSUB career by going 30-8 as a senior and qualifying for his first NCAA Division I Championship tournament. He placed second at the Pac-12 Tournament at 197 pounds as a senior and was third at 197 as a junior. Franklin was named Academic All-Conference as a senior. He completed his Roadrunner career with a 74-57 record.
“We have a staff with a wealth of experience and at the same time we have young guys that can get on the mat,†Rivera said. “I look forward to seeing all that we can accomplish together as we lead the CSUB wrestling program this season.â€
CSU Bakersfield hosts the annual Blue-Gold dual Oct. 22 before opening the regular season Nov. 5 against California Baptist at 6 p.m. For ticket information head to www.GoRunners.com/tix.
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