The Brown & White

Wresting Head Coach Greg Strobel stepped down from his position on the Mountain Hawks squad to pursue an administrative role in Lehigh Athletics, Dean of Athletics Joe Sterrett announced in a press conference Tuesday.

Strobel, who has led the Hawks for 13 seasons, will be replaced by Pat Santoro, a former Lehigh assistant coach.

A four-time EIWA coach of the year, Strobel leaves the Hawks with an NCAA championship, six EIWA championships and a record of 189-83-1 under his belt.

In his new position in the athletics department, Strobel will be in charge of the Lehigh wrestling summer camps and alumni fund raising. Leaving behind his spot on the sidelines will be a difficult transition to make, Strobel said.

"Initially it's always tough," Strobel said. "When you have an occupation for so long it's like 'what else do I know, what else can I do?' Can I wake up in the morning and not call myself coach?"

But Strobel said when Sterrett approached him with the opportunity it came at the right time; he was ready for a career move.

"We'd been talking about this year for several years," he said. "I just felt like it was a good time to move on. We have a good young team, so I wanted to make sure we get a good guy in."

Santoro was the right guy, Sterrett said.

Santoro travels back to the Lehigh Valley from College Park, Maryland, where he spent five years as head coach of the University of Maryland Terrapins. In 2008, Santoro was named ACC coach of the year after leading the squad to a 16-4 season and its first conference title since 1973.

Although Santoro was excited for the opportunity to return to his hometown, breaking the news to his championship squad was painful.

"It was the most difficult thing I had to do professionally," Santoro said. "It was pretty emotional. It's a great group of kids. I talk[ed] to some of the captains and I know they are meeting right now and they are focusing on next season."

The Terrapins weren't the only ones who were surprised with the news, the Mountain Hawks' squad was not aware Strobel would be leaving, wrestler Jeff Santo, '08, said.

"Some of the kids got pretty upset … but I am sure they all calmed down," Santo said. "They weren't really sure, most of the guys know Santoro … he was the coach when I got here and he's awesome. I told the guys, 'he's a great,' so don't be upset, it's not like we're getting someone we don't know."

But, Santo admitted, Lehigh wrestling would not be the same without Strobel, a coach he had associated with the sport since he was a child.

He teaches us so much," Santo said. "Not just about wrestling, [but] about life values. Take what he says in the wrestling room [about] working hard and doing the right things, and taking it on after wrestling. He was about making you a better person."

Strobel's coaching- style will not be forgotten with Santoro, who spent nine years as Strobel' assistant coach before moving to Maryland. During his time at Lehigh, Santoro earned assistant coach of the year honors after helping Strobel lead the Hawks to a national title in 2004.

"I am very excited returning back to the Lehigh Valley," Santoro said. "Lehigh wrestling has been part of my family since I was born."

Although he had his start at Lehigh, Santoro knows he will need to recreate bonds with the Mountain Hawks squad.

"I think the first thing is re-recruit the athletes that are there right now," Santoro said. "I didn't recruit them to go to Lehigh, and then I have to get a hold of the Lehigh recruits and make sure they are comfortable. It is what you have to do to have that culture of success and have them believe in what they are doing."

The culture of success is something the wrestling squad at Lehigh is accustomed to, and Santoro is aware of Strobel's legacy.

"Very big shoes to fill," he said. "There is definitely a lot of pressure with the Lehigh job."

Correction: The article incorrectly said Pat Santoro was from Maryland University. The school is actually called University of Maryland.