Klitzman | Penn can go Eiter way for continuity

With former Penn wrestling coach Zeke Jones on his way to Colorado Springs to head the U.S. National Freestyle team, attention now turns to the Quakers' future.

Athletic director Steve Bilsky is now left with two options: Make Rob Eiter, Jones' former assistant and current interim coach, the full-time coach, or hire from outside Penn.

If Bilsky used the latter approach, he would probably be able to find a suitable candidate. Penn has a storied history of wrestling: three Olympians, five individual national championships and 21 All-Americans.

Ironically, one reason for this success has been consistent coaching; Jones's departure after just three years is out of the ordinary. His five immediate predecessors had tenures ranging from eight to 19 years.

Going out-of-house is a risk-reward situation. There's a good chance that Penn could find a great coach, maybe even one with head coaching experience, something Eiter lacks. But stability is currently Penn's No. 1 need. October is a big recruiting month and if Bilsky waits too long to hire a replacement, potential recruits might be dissatisfied with the coaching situation.

It would be in the best interests of the team to promote Eiter to official head coach. What he lacks in head coaching experience, he makes up for with familiarity of the team. By naming him the successor as soon as possible, Bilsky would bring some stability.

The X-factor is the wrestling program's alumni base. The Grapplers Club - which just celebrated its 70th anniversary this past year - is the oldest booster club for a collegiate wrestling team in the nation. Many prominent Penn graduates, such as David Pottruck, are members.

While it's very unlikely there will be a situation like in 2003 when Auburn University booster Bobby Lowder flew out Bobby Petrino as a potential replacement to football coach Tommy Tuberville, it would not be surprising for the Grapplers Club to express their opinion on a potential coach. At the same time, my experience with the alumni tells me they will go along with whomever Bilsky chooses.

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While Jones' resignation seemed to come out of nowhere, it doesn't mean Penn is doomed this upcoming season.

Senior Cesar Grajales admitted that it's easy to adapt to different coaches. And if Eiter were to be hired, it's unlikely he'd implement a drastically different system than Jones.

Regardless of who replaces Jones, the Quakers will have a talented team this winter. Penn brings back eight of its top 10 wrestlers from 2007-08, including seven who qualified for the NCAAs. And both of the two Quakers who advanced the furthest in last year's championship - then-junior Zack Shanaman and sophomore Rollie Peterkin - will return.

Jones' decision to leave Penn may have turned a few heads. And it will certainly be interesting to see how the Quakers react once the season actually starts. But unless Jones' replacement - be it Eiter or a fresh face - turns out to be a disaster, Penn wrestling should be fine despite Jones leaving to become the head honcho in USA wrestling.

Zach Klitzman is a junior History major from Bethesda, Md. His e-mail address is klitzman@dailypennsylvanian.com.

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