Northern Iowa wrestling coach Doug Schwab signs extension through 2028 season

Doug Schwab isn't leaving Cedar Falls anytime soon.

Schwab, Northern Iowa's head wrestling coach, signed a four-year extension on Tuesday, keeping him as the coach of the Panthers through the 2027-28 season.

"I am excited for the opportunity to continue to build this program and move it forward," Schwab said in a statement. "We love our team and our community. UNI is home.

"We have a lot left that we want to achieve and there is no place I would rather do it than UNI. Our family has a great support system here and we are excited for the future."

This is Schwab's second extension since becoming the head coach. He originally signed in May 2014, then signed his first extension in 2018 after Northern Iowa moved from the Mid-American Conference to the Big 12, then signed again late last month.

In the first extension, the University of Northern Iowa upped the wrestling program's scholarship total to 9.9, according to documents obtained by the Register, matching other fully funded wrestling programs around the country. Additionally, the program's salary pool for assistant coaches increased from $102,676 to $122,676.

In this second extension, the university agreed to fully employ two full-time assistants for the wrestling program, according to university documents. Schwab's annual guaranteed yearly compensation jumped to $174,004, a total that includes his base salary and yearly appearance fees. He originally signed for $115,000 per year.

"Doug has consistently and impressively improved the UNI Wrestling program during his 11-year tenure and has built a team that is among the best in the Big 12 and in the NCAA," Northern Iowa athletic director David Harris said.

"Along with his continued success on the mat, he, Allyson and their family have ingrained themselves into the Cedar Valley and the UNI community. We are thrilled to continue to have coach Schwab lead our program into the future."

► MORE WRESTLING COVERAGE FROM THE REGISTER

• New Hampton state champ Carson Babcock commits to UNI
• 10 big results from the Iowa freestyle state championships
• 7 takeaways from the Iowa greco state tournament
• Grand View women's wrestling adds Alli Ragan to coaching staff

Schwab has coached 60 NCAA qualifiers and 17 All-Americans during his 11-year coaching tenure at Northern Iowa. That includes Parker Keckeisen, who finished third at the national tournament at 184 pounds this past season, as well as Drew Foster, a 2019 NCAA champion, the program's first since 2000 and Schwab's first as a head coach.

The Osage native was named the 2020 Big 12 Coach of the Year, and has recorded a career dual record of 90-58. Schwab has led Northern Iowa to top-five finishes at each of the last four Big 12 Championships, and has coached five wrestlers to a combined seven individual Big 12 tournament titles.

Schwab recently was among those contacted for the head coaching job at Illinois, made available after longtime coach Jim Heffernan stepped down. Schwab, one of four finalists, was offered the job but turned down the opportunity to stay in Cedar Falls.

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