UNI's new wrestling hire

This is what University of Northern Iowa can looking forward to. A fist-pumping, in your face attitude that will certainly stir up excitement in Cedar Falls.

Unless something momumentally drastic changes, University of Iowa assistant coach Doug Schwab will become the new UNI head wrestling coach, replacing former coach Brad Penrith who was fired April 7.  Schwab supposedly met with Dannen this morning at 9 a.m., likely making the hire official.

Schwab was one of three finalists for the position, which included SUNY-Binghamton head coach Pat Popolizio and Iowa State assistant and former UT-Chattanooga head coach Chris Bono. Schwab has sepnt the last four seasons as an assistant to University of Iowa Coach Tom Brands, helping lead the Hawkeyes to three straight NCAA and Big Ten team titles. He was previously an assistant for Brands at Virginia Tech.

UNI fans will never tire seeing this in the corner of a Panthers match. The animation will only help accelerate excitement for a program that has the 19th best recruiting class coming in next season, according to The Open Mat.

Schwab was a three-time All-American for the Hawkeyes, winning a 141-pound NCAA title in 1999. Schwab is also a stone's throw from his hometown of Osage, where he won the 130-pound state title as a prep in 1996.

The bigger questions now surface. Who does Schwab bring in to be his assistants? Who replaces Schwab on the Hawkeyes staff? Will Schwab be the catalyst to bring about change in the Panthers program to deliver them out of the West Gym and into a more 8updated facility?

Could this man be coming with Doug for a return to Cedar Falls? Mark Schwab said is interested in returning to UNI to serve the right person. He also noted Doug would be one of those "right" people. He certainly bridges the gap to the alums who supposedly were alienated in the past. He's been a good head coach and a very highly thought of Division I assistant. The real question would be who is retained, if anyone, from the old staff.

The Hawkeye situation is even tougher, but right now if I had to throw something against the wall I'd say Zadick would assume Schwab's position and a former Hawkeye steps in Zadick's post. Maybe a Metcalf, Steve Mocco or a Eustice brother, even if Ty Eustice steps away from his JUCO program.