Schwab set on turning UNI around

Doug Schwab has many memories of a packed West Gym, buzzing with excitement about University of Northern Iowa wrestling.

The Osage native, whose older brothers, Mark and Mike, wrestled for the Panthers, will be in charge of restoring that fervor.

Schwab has accepted the head wrestling coach position for the Panthers and will be introduced by the school at a press conference noon Thursday at the McLeod Center. He replaces former coach Brad Penrith, who was fired April 7 after 10 years leading the program.

Schwab is familiar with UNI's storied wrestling tradition. It was one of the attractions of the position.

"They have a great history," Schwab said. "They have passionate fans. They have passionate alumni that are bursting for something to get excited about."

The program needs to a boost after finishing 40th at the 2010 NCAA Championships in March. Jarion Beets was the team's lone All-American, placing eighth at 174 pounds. Schwab's intensity has been displayed in the corner of University of Iowa wrestlers the last four years. He could provide the spark the program needs.

"The commitment level is going to be raised, expectations are going to be raised and how they're going to compete - the intensity and passion - is going to be raised," Schwab said. "They're looking forward to it. That's what they want. That's what they've been waiting for. They're waiting for someone to bring it out of them. That's my job, to get it out of them."

Schwab vows to have the Panthers prepared for competition. Schwab will demand a lot of commitment and effort in practice and in competition. The former Hawkeye will bring the aggressive "Iowa style" to Cedar Falls.

"We're going to care about how we win," said Schwab, noting that instilling confidence in the wrestlers will be important. "Not just winning, but care about how we're winning, building leads and continue to attack and battling seven minutes."

Schwab has been an assistant coach for the Hawkeyes the last four seasons, helping them to three straight Big Ten and NCAA team titles. He was also an assistant at Virginia Tech for two years before returning to Iowa City. At both stops, he served under Iowa Coach Tom Brands. Schwab credited Brands for preparing him for this opportunity.

"Tom's been a great example for me, on and off the mat, as a person, husband, father and a coach," Schwab said. "I can't say enough good things about him."

One specific trait of Brands will influence Schwab's first head coaching experience. He hopes to emulate the energy and effort Brands devoted to his athletes.

"The biggest thing for me is the commitment and passion that he has for his athletes and what he's willing to do for them," Schwab said of Brands. "There's not many out there (like him)."

Schwab said the UI will always be a special place to him until the day he dies. The decision to leave was hard, but Division I coaching posts don't come around often and are more rare in Iowa, where wrestling is cherished.

"It was tough, because I have a lot of great people around me," Schwab said at Iowa. "A lot of great people to help build me as a coach, as a competitor, a person, leaving that and those relationships was tough."

Iowa isn't the only thing Schwab is leaving behind to become the Panthers new head coach. Schwab will no longer compete. The 2008 Olympian plans to compete in the World team Trials and advance to the World Championships in September.

He realized he couldn't split his focus between both roles as head coach and competitor. Both would likely suffer, so he's going from Olympic competitor to building Olympic hopefuls.

"After this, I will be done because I don't want to short change myself and I don't want to short change the team and athletes," Schwab said. "I want to be able to do the most I can for them.

"My energy is going to shift from being an athlete to my athletes."