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VARSITY VIEWS HELP WANTED Penn State looks to fill three head coaching vacancies | enn State fared exceptionally well this past fall, with five of its head coaches winning Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in their respective sports. The spring, however, was not so kind. After finishing third in the Big Ten in 2012, the baseball team plunged to last place this past season, winning only 14 of 50 games. The softball team finished with the worst winning percentage (.320) among Big Ten teams. And now changes are coming to the leadership of both programs. On June 7, athletic director Dave Joyner announced the resignation of softball coach Robin Petrini. Then on June 14, he announced that baseball coach Robbie Wine had resigned, too. Joyner said Penn State would immediately launch national searches to fill both coaching vacancies. As of this writing, however, no clear candidates had emerged. Petrini leaves as the longest-tenured coach in Penn State softball history. She coached the Nittany Lions for 17 seasons, compiling a 489-437-2 record. In a prepared statement, Petrini expressed gratitude to the university and said she was "especially grateful to Bill and Lee Beard and all our loyal donors for their roles in taking Nittany Lion Softball Park from a dream to reality." Wine said in a prepared statement that he is "excited to start a new chapter in my life and looking forward to what lies ahead. My experience at Penn State has made me a better coach and person. I thank the student-ath- P letes I had the opportunity to coach, mentor and develop on and off the field. I wish them all the best of luck." Wine posted a 228-261 overall record in nine seasons as head coach. Penn State lost another varsity coach on June 30 when John Hargis tendered his resignation. Coach of the men's and women's swimming and diving teams, Hargis announced he was leaving to return to his alma mater, Auburn, where he will serve as associate head coach. Hargis's announcement was unexpected, as both teams had experienced success under his leadership. Both had been ranked in the Top 25 during the 2012-13 season, and Nittany Lion swimmers broke school records on 15 different occasions. Thirteen women and seven men participated in the 2013 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, with one athlete from each team taking part in the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships. "The success we have had both in the pool and classroom is a true testament to the student-athletes we have guided through the program," Hargis said. "State College will always be a special place. … I can promise you we will forever be Penn State proud." "I would like to thank John for his outstanding service to Penn State," Joyner said. "He has brought both the men's and women's programs to new heights, and the future is very bright for our swimming and diving teams. I wish John the best of luck in his I return to his alma mater." URSCHEL CONTINUED FROM 45 to hear him talk about rearranging his priorities. This, after all, is a student who declined a mentor's recommendation that he apply for a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. But if he's proven anything during the past four years, it's that he can multitask. "The focus has definitely shifted. I think that's OK," he said. "I have my undergrad and my master's degrees. I've gotten my education. I think it's OK to shift my focus. I think it's acceptable. I'd like to think so." His parents, friends, teammates and coaches seem to think so, too. "He's definitely got that kind of ability, strength, athleticism and intelligence on the football field – apart from his academic intelligence," Wisniewski said. "He's a really hardworking guy and he's really committed to becoming the best player he can be. I certainly see him as a guy who can play in the NFL for a while." For now, Urschel is preparing for the next step on that journey: a strong senior season at Penn State. Everything else can wait. "He only has one thing to worry about now, and it's a real relief to him, for the time being, just to worry about this one thing – football – and do well with it," Urschel Sr. said. "He just can't wait for the summer to be over. "He's enjoying his summer in terms of not having these other headaches, but he's also enjoying it because he can see the real action is just about I to start."

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