SLIPPERY ROCK — Bob Becker was on the first Slippery Rock High wrestling team.

Jeff Kline came a few years later.

Now, both are back with the program in a unique role.

The Slippery Rock School Board hired Becker and Kline as co-head wrestling coaches Monday.

Becker, 25, has been wrestling since he was 5 and was a volunteer coach in San Antonio, Texas, and Belleview, Ill., while serving in the Air Force.

Kline, 21, wrestled at Mercyhurst-North East and is finishing up his degree at Slippery Rock University.

Both admitted the arrangement is an unusual one, but they said it won't be an issue.

"We talked and went over a game plan," Becker said. "I really don't think we are going to assign responsibilities. We're going to both get it done."

"I have high expectations for both of us," Kline said. "I'm very excited. I'm hoping we can get the program back to winning again."

Becker and Kline will take over for Derek DeGraaf, who was hired as a 19-year-old and spent one season as coach before resigning recently.

DeGraaf took over for Fred Powell, who started the program in 1998 after serving as the Slippery Rock University wrestling coach.

Both Becker and Kline wrestled for Powell and draw a great deal of their coaching styles from him. Becker's father, also named Bob, was Powell's assistant with the Rockets and is now a wrestling coach at Laurel High.

"I want to follow in that tradition," Becker said. "Between coach Powell and my dad, I am in good hands. If I have any questions, I know they will be there to answer them. That's pretty comforting."

The program has changed quite a bit from Becker's day.

In 1998, Becker was a sophomore in a brand-new program that had no home, borrowed mats and barely enough singlets and headgear to go around.

Now, there is a junior high and elementary program in place. The team also has its own wrestling room and a home match schedule.

Becker is happy to be home. He returned two months ago after a seven-year stint in the Air Force.

Becker did a six-month tour in Iraq, 45 miles north of Baghdad.

As a dietary technician, he worked in a hospital making sure injured soldiers received the proper nutrition.

"Alot of guys were so hurt, they couldn't keep any food down," Becker said. "My job was to make sure they were getting enough calories. It was tough. I got to see the aftermath of what they were doing."

As a wrestling coach, Becker said he can put his expertise in diet to good use.

Cutting weight is an important part of wrestling, and Becker has the knowledge to help his wrestlers do it the proper way.

"That's actually why I picked that career field," Becker said. "As a wrestler, I had to cut weight, and I didn't always do it the right way because I didn't know any better. Now I do."

Slippery Rock went 3-6 in dual meets last season. The Rockets, though, are beginning to see the fruits of the elementary and junior high program, as promising wrestlers Ryan Peoples and Forest Christman will make their high school debuts.

Like Powell, who often could be found grappling with his wrestlers in practice, Becker and Kline say they will be hands-on coaches.

"Oh, yeah, we still got it a little bit," Becker said, chuckling. "I'm more sore than I used to be, but we'll get in there. It's going to be fun."