BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Illinois Wesleyan University Athletic Director Mike Wagner announced Brett Robbins as the IWU head men's and women's wrestling coach Wednesday, April 5. Robbins, a native of Bloomington, Ill. and graduate of Bloomington High School, returns to his hometown after a seven-year run at the University of Northern Iowa.

"I am ecstatic to welcome Brett and his family back to Bloomington," Wagner said. "Throughout the hiring process, Brett's vision for the program as well as his passion for the sport and the community made the decision clear. I am excited to watch him build our women's program and reignite our men's team with the outstanding wrestling talent our region is filled with."

In seven seasons as an assistant coach on Doug Schwab's staff at UNI, Robbins coached eight individual conference champions (one Mid-American Conference, seven Big 12 Conference), 47 NCAA national qualifiers, and has seen the Panthers finish in the top-20 at the NCAA Championship six times. 

"I am excited and fired up for the opportunity to lead Titan wrestling and join the Illinois Wesleyan community," Robbins said. "I want to thank Athletic Director Mike Wagner for the opportunity to join the vision he has for IWU and the championship standard held within the athletic department. I cannot say enough good things about the people at UNI and the guidance and leadership I got from Doug Schwab. I am really looking forward to bringing collegiate wrestling back to the Bloomington-Normal area and returning home."

As a collegiate wrestler, Robbins qualified to compete internationally at the FILA Junior World Championships in 2006. In June 2006, he was named the FILA Junior Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Month and won the FILA Junior World Team Trials at 132 pounds. 

In his senior year at UNI, Robbins bounced back after a long battle with a medical hardship to win the Loras and Jim Fox opens and go undefeated in dual matches. He posted a 19-5 record, and graduated from UNI in 2012 with a degree in history.

Upon graduation, he competed at 66 kg and placed eighth at the 2013 U.S. Open.

Robbins graduated from Bloomington High School in 2005, where he was an all-state wrestler. He and his wife Holli have two children.