STATE COLLEGE, Pa., December 19, 2001 - Penn State men's lacrosse head coach Glenn Thiel announced that 2001 Penn State graduate Eric Wood will be joining the Nittany Lion staff beginning Jan. 1 as a coaching assistant. Wood replaces Greg Jackson, who worked with the staff during the fall semester.

Wood's primary duties will be to work with the Nittany Lion offense, the face-off unit and to assist with recruiting. A four-year starter at Penn State, he tallied 40 goals, 45 assists and 85 points while playing attack and midfield. Last season, he served as team captain and earned second team all-ECAC honors as a midfielder. Winner of the Nick Thiel Award for the team's most improved player in 1998, Wood was also named second team all-conference as a junior.

"Woody had a great career at Penn State and we believe he will be a great addition to our staff," said coach Thiel. "He is a good compliment to [assistant coach] Lars [Tiffany] and I, and will help to innovate the offense. He will also be a good asset in recruiting in the upstate New York area."

Wood graduated in December with a degree in kinesiology. He is pursuing a masters degree at Penn State in education.

The Penn State men's lacrosse team returns 25 letterwinners, including three starters. The Nittany Lions were 7-6 last year and 2-4 in the ECAC. The team opens the 2002 season at Notre Dame on Feb. 24.