Northern Iowa's Doug Schwab signs three-year extension

Northern Iowa wrestling coach Doug Schwab has agreed to a three-year contract extension, athletic director David Harris announced Thursday.

Schwab, who recently just completed his eighth season as the Panthers' head coach, is now signed through 2024. 

"Doug has done a tremendous job with the UNI Panther wrestling program," Harris said in a release. "His passion for Panther wrestling is unmatched. He cares deeply about each student-athlete in the wrestling room.

"We look forward to the continued success of the program on so many levels — in the classroom, in citizenship and on the mat."

During his tenure, Schwab has coached 41 NCAA tournament qualifiers and nine All-Americans, the latest being Jacob Holschlag, who finished fifth at 197 pounds at the 2018 NCAA Championships. Under Schwab, Northern Iowa has posted a 71-47 dual mark.

This past season, the Panthers made the jump to the Big 12 Conference, and finished second at their first-ever Big 12 Championship tournament, in which they had two individual champions in Taylor Lujan (174) and Drew Foster (184).

Even more, the Panthers ranked among the top 15 nationally in wrestling attendance for the 2017-18 season, averaging 1,724 fans per dual at the West Gym in Cedar Falls.

Next year's Northern Iowa lineup is expected to have three All-Americans — Holschlag, as well as Foster and Max Thomsen (149), who were 2017 All-Americans. They will be joined by a 2018 recruiting class that was ranked No. 9 nationally by The Open Mat.

"I love coaching at the University of Northern Iowa," Schwab said in a statement. "My family and I couldn't be more excited to know that for at least the next six years, it will be spent in the Cedar Valley. I know that the type of support we get from our administration, alumni and fans is special.

"We want them to know we are truly grateful for what they do for the program and these men that represent it on and off the mat. I have such an incredible group of coaches and student-athletes to work with. They challenge me and demand the best of me every day and I thank them for that.

"I cannot wait to lead this program and group of men into the future."

Cody Goodwin covers wrestling and high school sports for the Des Moines Register. Follow him on Twitter at @codygoodwin.