CHAMPAIGN -- Volunteer assistant coach Jeremy Hunter and All-American Mike Poeta have been hired to complete Illinois wrestling coach Jim Heffernan's staff.

Hunter, the volunteer assistant for the past eight seasons, has been hired as an assistant coach. Poeta, who will continue to compete in freestyle events, is the new volunteer assistant.

Poeta was a three-time All-American and two-time national finalist.

"I fell a little short of my goals in college," Poeta said. "But I'm in the next chapter of my career and I'm going to do everything in my power to be a world and Olympic champion while also doing everything I can do get as many NCAA champions in our program as possible."

Hunter was an NCAA champion at 125 pounds in 2000 while at Penn State. He, too, was a three-time All-American.

Hunter and Poeta join a staff that includes assistant coach Carl Perry, who also is a holdover from former coach Mark Johnson's staff.