CLARION — Chris Weibel is Clarion University’s interim head football coach.

The East Brady native and former Moniteau offensive coordinator is unsure of whether he will attempt to have the word ‘interim’ removed from that title.

“All I know is this is where I want to be,” Weibel, 40, said. “I have a lot of pride in this program and I want to see it succeed.”

Weibel was the Golden Eagles’ quarterback in 1996, when the team finished 11-3 and reached the NCAA Division II semifinals before losing a 19-18 decision to Northern Colorado.

He ranked second in the nation in passing efficiency that year, completing 208 of 356 passes for 2,880 yards and 32 touchdowns.

Weibel threw for 7,845 yards and 65 touchdowns for Clarion before graduating with a marketing degree in 1998.

Since then, the football program has fallen upon hard times.

The Golden Eagles have had just one winning season — 8-3 in 2009 — in the past 12 years.

Former Slippery Rock University defensive coordinator Jay Foster, 29-70 in nine seasons at Clarion, retired as the Golden Eagles’ head coach two weeks ago.

Clarion athletic director Dave Katis said “it’s his (Weibel’s) decision” as to whether Weibel applies for the permanent head coaching post. A national search has begun to fill the position.

“This isn’t like a Pitt or Nebraska, where you can replace a head coach in three days,” Katis said. “There’s a lot of diligent work that needs to go on.

“We need an interim coach in place to head our recruiting efforts and keep a face to the program. We felt Chris was that guy.”

Weibel has been an assistant coach at Clarion for 11 years, the last two as offensive coordinator.

He served as offensive coordinator for two years under Steve Wilson at Moniteau before that.

“Steve and I are friends and that experience helped get me into coaching when I was playing arena football,” Weibel said.

He added that the Clarion program “needed a lot of work” when Foster took over in 2006.

“Jay implemented different things here academically and athletically,” Weibel said. “He got this program moving in the right direction.

“Just listening to him talk, I learned. He taught me about commitment and mutual respect between coaches and athletes.”

As interim head coach, Weibel is spearheading the Golden Eagles’ recruiting — a bit of a challenge with prospective incoming players unsure of the coaching situation.

“We know other programs are using that against us during recruiting,” Weibel said. “But I just tell kids they’ll be playing for me. The other coaches and myself are selling the qualities of the school as well.”

Weibel will handle other administrative off-season duties required of a head coach while the university seeks Foster’s successor.

“By sometime in February, we’re hoping to have our new coach in place,” Katis said.

That could be Weibel, who admits his dream is to help return Clarion to that glory year of 1996.

“Whether it’s as a head coach or assistant, whatever capacity, I’ll do what I can to make that happen,” he said. “It’s a tough conference, one of the best three or four in the country in Division II, and we know it’s a challenge to compete in this league.

“But people don’t realize how uplifting a season like we enjoyed in 1996 can be, in terms of the community, recruiting, enrollment, everything.

“It gives me chills when I talk to kids about that year. I knows the commitment it takes to get to that level. But it’s worth reaching for,” he added.