CommUnity Corner | Episode 3: Brendan Buckley

In this episode, I sit down with Brendan Buckley, former Executive Director of Beat the Streets NYC and longtime Division I wrestler and coach. Brendan reflects on his journey — from wrestling and coaching at the highest levels, including leading programs at Cal Poly and Columbia University, to nearly a decade of building Beat the Streets into a powerhouse for youth development.

During his tenure, Beat the Streets achieved its highest fundraising milestones — $1.3 million in both 2019 and 2023 — while impacting thousands of student-athletes across New York City. Brendan shares candid thoughts on leadership, sacrifice, and his personal philosophy of leaving the world better than we found it.

Now stepping into a new chapter, Brendan discusses his role as the next Executive Director of Trenton Youth Wrestling and his work consulting nonprofits to grow their impact.

This conversation is about more than wrestling — it’s about community, legacy, and the power of sport to change lives.