LEXINGTON, Va. – The VMI wrestling team announced the hiring of Eddie Klimara on Friday as an assistant coach.

Klimara enjoyed a stellar career at Oklahoma State University, qualifying four times for NCAA competition and earning All-American honors once. He was a two-time Big 12 Champion and a four-time finalist. He finished his OSU career with a 103-41 record, 21 technical falls, 23 major decisions and 16 pins.

Klimara was the University of Virginia and Cavalier Wrestling Club Resident Athlete from 2017-2018 and served in the same role from with the Cowboy Wrestling at Oklahoma State University from 2018-20.

He has done well competing internationally after graduating, placing second at the Tour de France Open (Nice, France) in 2018 and took fifth at the Cuba Open (Havana, Cuba) and seventh at the US Open (Las Vegas, NV), which qualified him for 2018 US World Team Trials.

"I couldn't be more excited to add someone to our coaching staff that has the wrestling pedigree of Eddie," said VMI head coach Jim Gibson. "He has achieved success on every level the sport of wrestling has to offer.  From high school, college, and internationally."

"Eddie having competed for and finishing a very successful wrestling career for the most storied collegiate wrestling program will pay major dividends to our cadet athletes."