EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Steve Wozniak will serve as the interim head coach for the UW-Eau Claire wrestling team, Director of Athletics Scott Kilgallon announced today.

"We are excited to have Coach Wozniak take over the wrestling program and know he will bring his past success as a wrestler, NWCA Scholar All-American, and as a former Blugolds assistant wrestling coach to continue to move the program forward," Kilgallon said. "I would like to thank Coach Ames for the great job he did last season and look forward to a seamless transition given the great group of assistant coaches working with our team and assisting Coach Wozniak."

Wozniak takes over the Blugold wrestling program from Jon Ames, who served as interim head coach during the 2012-13 season. During Ames' time as head coach, he led two Blugolds to the NCAA Division III Championship for the first time since the 2002-03 season. Freshman Nathaniel Behnke (Bruce, Wis.) captured All-American honors, the Blugolds' first All-American since 2009.

Wozniak has served as an assistant coach for the Blugold wrestling team since 2010. He graduated from UW-Stevens Point in 2011 with a health promotion/wellness degree and competed on both the Pointer wrestling and football team. Wozniak was a nationally-ranked heavyweight during his senior season with the Pointers and earned National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American honors. He is currently attending UW-Stout to earn a Master's Degree in school counseling.

"I look forward to another season of being a Blugold," Wozniak said. "Last year we took a huge step in the right direction, and we will continue off the progress we made the previous year. Last year we were a young team and I am excited to see what we can accomplish this year. I have a great group of assistant coaches with many years of experience that will make this transition seamless, and I look forward to leading the team into the 2013-14 wrestling season."