July 7, 2004

BLACKSBURG - Three-time collegiate All-American and 1999 national champion Doug Schwab will join the Virginia Tech wrestling staff as the second assistant coach, as announced Wednesday by head coach Tom Brands.

ìWe were looking for an elite level athlete whoís going to continue to train toward being the best in the world and Doug Schwab fits that category,î Brands said. ìAdd in the fact that he will interact well with the student-athletes because of his commitment to their progress and Doug is a great fit at Virginia Tech.î

Schwab, a three-time Big 10 champion, completes the new staff, joining Brands and Wes Hand as former Hawkeyes on the Hokie staff. Schwab was a part of three national championship teams, including the 2000 team which featured Hand as its heavyweight and Brands as the teamís assistant coach.

As a 141-pounder, the Osage, Iowa, native placed third in 2000 and was the runner-up in 2001. He finished his collegiate career with 130 wins, 10^th-best all-time at Iowa and lettered from 1998-2001.

He remains active in the competitive wrestling world, training and competing with the Minnesota Storm wrestling club. He won the 2003 Sunkist Kids International Open at 145.5 pounds in October and winning Outstanding Wrestler honors in the freestyle event.

Schwab is a 2001 graduate of the University of Iowa with a degree in communications. He has been working toward his Masterís degree in kinesiology/sport management at the University of Minnesota.