The wait is finally over.
Since Zeke Jones stepped down as the head coach of the Penn wrestling team on Sept. 27 in order to take the same position with USA Wrestling, the Penn reins have been up for grabs.
But yesterday, Rob Eiter - an assistant under Jones for two years and the interim coach after his departure - was named the permanent head coach.
"It's a great honor," Eiter said.
He said he agreed in principle to accept the offer on Monday, and since then ironed out the contract's details, which were undisclosed.
"Rob's extensive experience in coaching as well as his accomplishments as an athlete have prepared him well for a head coaching role," Penn Athletic Director Steve Bilsky said in a statement.
For over a month, it was unclear whether Bilsky would hire an outsider or promote Eiter, but the wrestlers believe he made the best choice.
"It's what the team and what I wanted," senior Cesar Grajales said. "We're all very comfortable with him and familiar in the way he trains us.
"He's a great motivator and expects a lot out of us."
Grajales added that while the vacant coaching spot wasn't ideal, the team made an effort to look past it.
"We tried to not let it affect your training," the second-team all-Ivy wrestler said. "We didn't change our team goals."
Before joining Jones' staff, Eiter was an assistant at Northwestern and at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. He wrestled for the United States at the Olympics in 1992 and 1996, and the World Championships in 1993 and 1995. The five-time U.S. Open Champion wrestled alongside Jones at Arizona State, graduating a year after him in 1991.
Eiter sees himself as somewhat different than his predecessor.
"We have similar styles when it comes to technique," Eiter said. But "my approach is more that I see these guys as a family. I hurt with every loss that they take.
"If you show an emotional side of yourself, you get a little bit more out of the kids."
