DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – In coordination with Loras' Homecoming celebration on the weekend of Oct. 2-4, 2015, Head Coach Randy Steward announced the opening of the "Dr. Michael Early Wrestling Wall of Fame". The wall will honor the greatest Duhawks to ever wear a Loras singlet, including six national champions and 55 all-americans.

For over 35 years, Early has been a loyal supporter of the Loras Wrestling program and remains active on a yearly basis through his work for the NCAA Wrestling Regional. The "Dr. Michael Early Wrestling Wall of Fame" will reside inside the Graber Sports Center, directly outside of Loras' wrestling room.

"It is with great pleasure that we are able to name the Loras College Wrestling 'Wall of Fame' in honor of Dr. Michael Early," Steward said. "He has had the opportunity to coach here, watch his son compete in the program and has been a fantastic supporter of Loras Wrestling for many years. A big thank you goes out to Mike and his wife, Gay."

A native of Davenport, Iowa, Early graduated from Assumption High School in 1976 and started his collegiate wrestling career at the University of Northern Iowa before transferring to St. Ambrose University. He continued to wrestle there and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education in 1981.

In the immediate months following his graduation, Early was hired at Loras to become the head wrestling coach, assistant football coach, residence hall director and faculty member of the physical education department.

For five seasons, Early led the Duhawk wrestling program to great success as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). During his tenure, Loras earned five NAIA All-American honors.

Keith Colsch, who was one of Loras' most decorated wrestlers and a 2001 inductee into the Loras Athletics Hall of Fame, was a four-time NAIA Tournament qualifier and two-time NAIA All-American.

Other all-americans during Early's tenure were John Kranz (1982), Kirk Humphrey (1984) and Pat Hogan (1985).

Early's time at the head of the wrestling program ended in 1986, upon his hiring at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

On Saturday, Oct. 3 as part of Loras College's 2015 Homecoming festivities, the wrestling program will host a ceremony to dedicate the Dr. Michael Early Wrestling Wall of Fame in the Graber center on Loras' campus.

Dr. Early left Loras in 1986 after receiving a Master's Degree in Education Leadership. In 2003 he received his doctorate in Education from Northern Illinois University.

Early resides in Yorkville with his wife, Gay and they have two children, Dave and Kimberly. Dave was a wrestler for Steward from 2003-2007 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2007 that was held at the Five Flags Center in Dubuque, Iowa.

The fall of 2015 is Early's 11th as Superintendent of the Richland School District 88A in Crest Hill, Illinois.

Loras will begin their 2015-16 season on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the UW-Platteville Open. The Duhawks' first home contest will be on Saturday, Jan. 9th for the Pat "Flash" Flanagan Open.