WHEELING, W. Va. – Wheeling Jesuit rugby will make their 2015-16 season debut Saturday at 1pm against the University of Cincinnati, with a new Head Coach at the helm.

WJU confirmed Friday that Tal Bayer has replaced Eric Jerpe as Head Coach.

“Tal is an educator. His ability as a coach and his understanding of Jesuit education make him a natural fit to continue the growth of the WJU men’s rugby program,” said WJU President, Rev. James Fleming, S.J.

WJU Interim Athletic Director James Regan said, “Tal was instrumental in growing the program as an assistant coach. It is great to pass the torch on to someone who knows Wheeling Jesuit and the rugby program. We are excited to welcome him as our first full-time head rugby coach and know our team is in good hands.”

Jerpe coached through an impressive spring that earned WJU and invitation to the DIA playoffs. Earlier this summer he met with WJU officials to discuss his position and the adminstration said that the rugby head coaching job should be made a full-time position. Jerpe, who has another job working wth blind children, said he could not serve in a full-time status unless he was able to make up the income lost from his other job. According to Jerpe, the offer was far from sufficient.

Bayer, who ran the Perry Street/Hyde Charter School program in Washington DC, was offered a full-time coaching position that included him performing some tasks in the admissions office. 

Jerpe said he was "heartbroekn. Part of me died. I loved coaching; I loved coaching the team; I loved the players. We were in a really good posiiton. We had 80 players set for this coming season. We beat some big-name schools, and I think we were more successfu than anyone expected."

“I look forward to having the opportunity to be a part of something that goes beyond athletics," said Bayer in a statement. "My background in character education and positive coaching aligns well with the Jesuit values of building men and women for others. I want to build a program of excellence that is recognized as much for our efforts off the field as on the field. I am excited for the opportunity to continue to build on the positive momentum Coach Jerpe established during the first three years. We have a great foundational group of upperclassmen, who help lead our efforts and a first-rate group of recruits challenging and pushing from underneath.”