LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW) - He's been a staple poolside at UW-L since 1979, but after 30 years at the helm, Eagles swim-dive skipper Rich Pein is trading his flip flops for... well, flip flops.
That is to say Pein is retiring at the end of this season.
Saturday's win over UW-Whitewater marked the final home meet in a career that saw Pein's Eagle men finish in the top 20 eleven times and the women take home four top-12 finishes, including a school best fifth place in 2004.
It was also Coach Pein's 250th career victory.
"It's just an emotional day," he said. "I've been on a roller-coaster that probably started about a month ago, but the last couple of days have been up and down, and today's really been up and down."
UW-L has begun a fundraising campaign to name the school's swimming and diving facilities after Coach Pein.
