Brett Oleson admitted Bacone College has a “black eye,” but he’s looking at the positive side of things.

Oleson is the Warriors’ new wrestling coach and he replaces Todd Sanchez, who was fired in early April after school officials said he allowed an ineligible athlete to compete in an National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics tournament.

“It bothers me for the only reason that it affects the kids coming back,” he said. “We’re getting through this. It’s the ideal situation. We’re at the bottom and the only place is to go up from there. That’s what excites me about this opportunity.”

Oleson isn’t the only coach excited.

Troy Callaway is excited about being the school’s new rodeo coach, replacing Buddy Lassiter after Lassiter stepped down to go into private business.

The 35-year-old Callaway comes to Muskogee after working one season as an assistant coach at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He’s already started working at Bacone.

Ironically, Oleson, 25, also comes to Bacone from Iowa. He was an assistant coach at Waldorf College, an NAIA school in Forest City, for three years. He’s also a former wrestler at Waldorf.

He starts his new job on Monday.

“My vision right now is we’re going to bust our tails. It’s our goal to get 10 guys qualified for nationals,” Oleson said. “Realistically, I would like to get one All-American this year. Who that is remains to be seen.

“We’re putting pieces of the puzzle together to see where I am and what I got. It’s going to be a work in progress.”

Callaway originally comes from Osborn, Mo. He’s been an assistant at Northeastern A&M; for a year and Pratt, Kan., Community College for three years. One of his former team ropers at NEO, Wendell Stanley, competed for the Warriors.

He’s also competed in rodeos, including steer wrestling and team roping.

Callaway realizes he’s taking over for a well-known collegiate rodeo coach.

“I knew Buddy when I was coaching in the region (while at NEO),” he said. “It’s pretty big shoes to follow.

“I’ve talked to most of the cowboys and cowgirls on the team by phone since I’ve been here. We’ve got some pretty good kids.”