Ep 122: UNI Panther Wrestling Coach Doug Schwab
If you put your tail between your legs, you might as well just go back and live in your parents’ basement
If wrestling had a hometown, Osage, Iowa would be in contention for that honor. The town of about 3500 has produced two Olympic wrestlers and perhaps the first-family of Iowa wrestling. With 6 state titles, 3 Big Ten Championships, 6 All Americans, a national championship, international success, and an Olympian, it is safe a safe bet that the mantle on the Schwab family fireplace has had to be reinforced a few times. Episode 122 brings the youngest Schwab brother, UNI Panther head coach Doug Schwab, to the podcast to tell his stories from on the mat.
Mike and Mark Schwab were two very successful wrestlers. Mike was a state champion and Mark was a 4-time state champ, only losing 1 match in high school. Both Mike and Mark were All Americans at UNI. Little brother Doug followed in their footsteps and added one more state title to the family trophy case before going on to wrestle at the University of Iowa. Doug’s career as a Hawkeye included 130 wins, 3 Big Ten titles, a national title and 3 time All American honors. Doug continued his career earning a Pan American Games gold, US National Championship, and a trip to the 2008 Bejing Olympics.
It is way better as a coach
Schwab’s career is now in its second phase as he is the head wrestling coach for the UNI Panthers. After serving as an assistant at Virginia Tech and the University of Iowa under Tom Brands, Schwab took the reins in Cedar Falls in 2010. Since that time, he has helped rebuild the Panther program, with the help of brother Mark, and restore it to one of the top 15 programs in the country. Schwab and his UNI Panthers are now in the Big 12 Conference and UNI had its first national champion, Drew Foster, since 2000.
Enjoy episode 122 with Green Devil, Hawkeye, Olympian, Panther and Moonlighter, Doug Schwab.