ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Northwestern College has appointed Luis Rivera-Santaigo as head coach of its newly-announced women’s wrestling program.
“We are excited to launch women’s wrestling at Northwestern College,” said Vice President for Athletics Tony Hoops. “Luis’ passion for Northwestern’s mission and investment into women’s wrestling in our local region made him the ideal candidate to lead this new program.”
Rivera-Santiago has held assistant and graduate assistant roles on Rik Dahl’s men’s wrestling staff since 2018, focusing on training and mentoring student-athletes, recruiting, and game planning. His competitive career continued alongside his coaching career, as Rivera-Santiago represented the Puerto Rican national team at the Central American, Caribbean, and Pan-American Games, further developing his skills in freestyle wrestling.
“First and foremost, I want to thank God for this incredible opportunity,” Rivera-Santiago said. “I’m also deeply grateful for my amazing wife, Morgan, whose love and support have meant everything, and for my family and friends who have stood beside me and lifted me up in prayer throughout this journey. Northwestern College has been a place of transformation in my life and holds a special place in my heart.”
In addition to his work on and beside the mat, Rivera-Santiago has served as a volunteer with Chop Wood for Good and Kids Hope USA.
During his time as a wrestler at Northwestern, Rivera-Santiago qualified twice for the NAIA Championships, was a GPAC Champion, First Team All-Conference, and GPAC Outstanding Wrestler in 2017, and earned Second Team All-Conference honors in 2016.
A 2017 Northwestern graduate with a degree in sport management, Rivera-Santiago hails from Lake Havasu, Arizona and currently resides in Orange City with his wife, Morgan. He earned a graduate degree in sport management from Southern New Hampshire University in spring 2025.
“I’m honored and excited to lead the launch of the women’s wrestling program,” Rivera-Santiago added. “It’s a blessing to be part of something this meaningful — not just for Northwestern, but for the growth of women’s wrestling and its development in Northwest Iowa.”
Northwestern’s women’s wrestling program will begin operations this fall with competition starting in the 2026-27 season.
