ISU wrestling coach Bobby Douglas has been recognized as the cream of the crop in the coaching ranks of the Big 12 Conference for the second straight year.

Douglas was named Big 12 Wrestling Coach of the Year Wednesday after a vote by league coaches.

The Cyclones turned in a stellar season with second place finishes in the NCAA Championships and the Big 12 Conference meet. Five Cyclones earned All-American status, led by national champ Cael Sanderson, who repeated at 184 pounds.

Also earning All-American honors for the Cyclones were Cody Sanderson at 133, Joe Heskett at 165, Zach Thompson at 197 and heavyweight Trent Hynek.

The Cyclones finished with a 20-2 dual record, which was the best mark since the 1985-86 team went 19-1.

In his 28 years of coaching, Douglas has piled up a record of 340-129-9, including a 115-52 mark at Iowa State.

Douglas also puts a heavy emphasis on academics, as the Cyclones put six wrestlers on the Academic All-Big 12 Team.

At the NCAA Championships, Douglas nearly captured his second career national title as the Cyclones finished only 6.5 points behind Iowa. Douglas won a national title in 1987-88 while coaching at Arizona State.

In his eight years as head coach at Iowa State, Douglas has placed in the top 10 at nationals every year, which includes four finishes in the top five.

Prior to this season, the best a Cyclone team had done under Douglas was a second-place finish in 1995-96.

Douglas will be looking for big things again next year as the Cyclones only lose two seniors, Hynek and Cody Sanderson.