EIWA FEATURE: Penn’s Eiter makes smooth transition as head coach
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by Gary Abbott
The 2008-09 college season started off like many others for Rob Eiter, who was entering his third year as the assistant wrestling coach at Penn. For 15 years, going back to his days as an Olympic team wrestler, Eiter had been a college assistant, working at Clarion and Northwestern before taking a job under Penn's head coach Zeke Jones.
Things changed suddenly when Jones accepted the position as USA Wrestling's National Freestyle Coach, leaving Penn to move to Colorado Springs and lead the U.S. freestyle program. Eiter was named interim coach, and very shortly after, Penn signed him on as the head coach of their nationally ranked program.
"I was thankful we had a highly qualified candidate at the time," said Alanna W. Shanahan, Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Penn. "It is not always the luxury you usually have."
Eiter and Jones go way back, as teammates and regular workout partners on numerous U.S. freestyle teams, as well as with the Sunkist Kids club. Jones departure opened up a head coaching post for Eiter, who has thrived in his new position.
"Not much has changed," said Eiter. "You run things the way you want to. Everybody does things differently. I have a different style. You recruit the kids you want. You do things your way."
Eiter had to pick up some new responsibilities that were not part of his previous assignments.
"I knew the program. Zeke, as head coach, was more working with administration and the alumni side. That was a learning curve of sorts for me. But being here for two years was an advantage. There is the fundraising here, and a different kind of recruiting. I came from Northwestern, which is going from a scholarship program to a financial-aid school," said Eiter.
Even with Eiter's qualifications and experience, changing course after a season has begun offers unique challenges.
"I feel for him. He took over at a time not ideal, not for the team and the recruiting front. Most of our recruiting is done in the early decision period. It made it very difficult for a new head coach," said Shanahan. "The transition went as smooth as you hope for. The guys on the team were excited and valued his leadership."
He inherited a team that was expected to well again and was competitive in every weight class. Eiter's first year at the helm featured a 12-7 dual meet record, a No. 24 national ranking, and three athletes ranked nationally as individuals: No. 10 Rollie Peterkin (125), No. 13 Cesar Grajales (149) and No. 17 Matt Dragon (157). Eiter feels the team has improved throughout the season.
"If you go up and down the lineup, each kid has improved in his areas of concentration," said Eiter. "For instance, Rollie (Peterkin) is now turning guys, working from the top with tilts and turns. The same thing with Cesar (Grajales), who has opened it up this year. Trey McLean (at heavyweight) has made the biggest change. We went from being pinned by opponents to beating them against Nebraska and Pitt, and nearly beating the Cornell kid."
Eiter likes the way his team is competing as the season reaches its most important stretch, the conference meet and the NCAA Championships.
"Rollie (Peterkin) is wrestling well. (Matt) Dragon is healthy and wrestling well. (Thomas) Shovlin is starting to click. Rick Rappo can beat anybody in the country. He has a sixth sense, and can put anybody on his back from the top, bottom or the feet. Brian Ortenzio has gotten better and better," said Eiter.
He thinks the team is at about 90% of its ability, which is not bad at this time of the year.
"That is fine," said Eiter. "You want them to get to the NCAAs and peak there."
The EIWA Championships is being held in the Palestra at Penn, an added duty for the first-year coach but something that has not become a big challenge for Eiter.
"Our alumni, since day one, have bent over backwards and been such a great help," said Eiter. "Tournament director John Povalac has done a phenomenal job. Hosting the EIWA has had a little stress added to that. But, really, there is so little for me to do, with the great job that John and the administration is doing here."
Eiter likes the home field advantage at the conference meet, but has decided to keep the team at a nearby hotel rather than have them stay in their normal homes for the weekend. He feels that will allow them to focus better and bond even closer as a group.
"We are trying to build a team atmosphere here, so they will remember they are at an important tournament," said Eiter. "I joked with the team. I told them I will rent a bus, and drive them around Philadelphia for an hour or so before going to the hotel, so they feel like they are on a trip somewhere."
Eiter, a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team, understands the advantages that Penn offers to motivated wrestlers who are also good students. One of Penn's all-time greats, 2000 Olympic champion Brandon Slay, will be honored with induction into the EIWA Hall of Fame this weekend.
"Whatever the kids that come to Penn want to do, we want to help them achieve their goals. To be an NCAA champion. To go to Wall Street. If continuing on is the goal, with Zeke at USA Wrestling now, and with the Sunkist Kids, that is also possible," said Eiter. "Brandon shows that you can do it. Here at Penn, you can do what you want. I want to provide the opportunities. Not everybody has that goal of becoming an Olympic champion, but I sure like when they say that it is."
The focus is on the EIWA competition this weekend and the athletes on this year's team.
"The team goal is to win," said Eiter. "We are the underdogs. We have surprised people all year. We will make a run for it. I think they like being the underdogs."
After the first day at the EIWAs, Penn is in second place behind Cornell, and just points ahead of Lehigh and Navy. The second day of the event will determine how many athletes Penn qualifies for the NCAAs, as well as the team's standing in this difficult conference.
"We feel pretty good. The guys are clicking. It has been a long season with at tough schedule. We had some injuries. You see that with Zach Shanaman having to pull out at the last minute from the EIWAs. As a team, we have overcome a lot, including the coaching change when it happened," said Eiter.
Things changed suddenly when Jones accepted the position as USA Wrestling's National Freestyle Coach, leaving Penn to move to Colorado Springs and lead the U.S. freestyle program. Eiter was named interim coach, and very shortly after, Penn signed him on as the head coach of their nationally ranked program.
"I was thankful we had a highly qualified candidate at the time," said Alanna W. Shanahan, Senior Associate Director of Athletics for Penn. "It is not always the luxury you usually have."
Eiter and Jones go way back, as teammates and regular workout partners on numerous U.S. freestyle teams, as well as with the Sunkist Kids club. Jones departure opened up a head coaching post for Eiter, who has thrived in his new position.
"Not much has changed," said Eiter. "You run things the way you want to. Everybody does things differently. I have a different style. You recruit the kids you want. You do things your way."
Eiter had to pick up some new responsibilities that were not part of his previous assignments.
"I knew the program. Zeke, as head coach, was more working with administration and the alumni side. That was a learning curve of sorts for me. But being here for two years was an advantage. There is the fundraising here, and a different kind of recruiting. I came from Northwestern, which is going from a scholarship program to a financial-aid school," said Eiter.
Even with Eiter's qualifications and experience, changing course after a season has begun offers unique challenges.
"I feel for him. He took over at a time not ideal, not for the team and the recruiting front. Most of our recruiting is done in the early decision period. It made it very difficult for a new head coach," said Shanahan. "The transition went as smooth as you hope for. The guys on the team were excited and valued his leadership."
He inherited a team that was expected to well again and was competitive in every weight class. Eiter's first year at the helm featured a 12-7 dual meet record, a No. 24 national ranking, and three athletes ranked nationally as individuals: No. 10 Rollie Peterkin (125), No. 13 Cesar Grajales (149) and No. 17 Matt Dragon (157). Eiter feels the team has improved throughout the season.
"If you go up and down the lineup, each kid has improved in his areas of concentration," said Eiter. "For instance, Rollie (Peterkin) is now turning guys, working from the top with tilts and turns. The same thing with Cesar (Grajales), who has opened it up this year. Trey McLean (at heavyweight) has made the biggest change. We went from being pinned by opponents to beating them against Nebraska and Pitt, and nearly beating the Cornell kid."
Eiter likes the way his team is competing as the season reaches its most important stretch, the conference meet and the NCAA Championships.
"Rollie (Peterkin) is wrestling well. (Matt) Dragon is healthy and wrestling well. (Thomas) Shovlin is starting to click. Rick Rappo can beat anybody in the country. He has a sixth sense, and can put anybody on his back from the top, bottom or the feet. Brian Ortenzio has gotten better and better," said Eiter.
He thinks the team is at about 90% of its ability, which is not bad at this time of the year.
"That is fine," said Eiter. "You want them to get to the NCAAs and peak there."
The EIWA Championships is being held in the Palestra at Penn, an added duty for the first-year coach but something that has not become a big challenge for Eiter.
"Our alumni, since day one, have bent over backwards and been such a great help," said Eiter. "Tournament director John Povalac has done a phenomenal job. Hosting the EIWA has had a little stress added to that. But, really, there is so little for me to do, with the great job that John and the administration is doing here."
Eiter likes the home field advantage at the conference meet, but has decided to keep the team at a nearby hotel rather than have them stay in their normal homes for the weekend. He feels that will allow them to focus better and bond even closer as a group.
"We are trying to build a team atmosphere here, so they will remember they are at an important tournament," said Eiter. "I joked with the team. I told them I will rent a bus, and drive them around Philadelphia for an hour or so before going to the hotel, so they feel like they are on a trip somewhere."
Eiter, a member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team, understands the advantages that Penn offers to motivated wrestlers who are also good students. One of Penn's all-time greats, 2000 Olympic champion Brandon Slay, will be honored with induction into the EIWA Hall of Fame this weekend.
"Whatever the kids that come to Penn want to do, we want to help them achieve their goals. To be an NCAA champion. To go to Wall Street. If continuing on is the goal, with Zeke at USA Wrestling now, and with the Sunkist Kids, that is also possible," said Eiter. "Brandon shows that you can do it. Here at Penn, you can do what you want. I want to provide the opportunities. Not everybody has that goal of becoming an Olympic champion, but I sure like when they say that it is."
The focus is on the EIWA competition this weekend and the athletes on this year's team.
"The team goal is to win," said Eiter. "We are the underdogs. We have surprised people all year. We will make a run for it. I think they like being the underdogs."
After the first day at the EIWAs, Penn is in second place behind Cornell, and just points ahead of Lehigh and Navy. The second day of the event will determine how many athletes Penn qualifies for the NCAAs, as well as the team's standing in this difficult conference.
"We feel pretty good. The guys are clicking. It has been a long season with at tough schedule. We had some injuries. You see that with Zach Shanaman having to pull out at the last minute from the EIWAs. As a team, we have overcome a lot, including the coaching change when it happened," said Eiter.
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