The Auburn High School Athletic Department has selected Matthew Hoover as its wrestling coach.

Hoover replaces Dennis Herren who resigned in January after six seasons leading the Trojans.

Hoover comes to Auburn with an extensive wrestling background as an athlete and a coach.

The former Iowa Hawkeye wrestler earned nationwide acclaim 10 years ago by losing more than 150 pounds to win the second season of the popular NBC show “The Biggest Loser.”

Hoover said he weighed more than 350 pounds before he started his emotional, driven quest on “The Biggest Loser,” where he won the competition after dropping all the way down to 182 pounds. He earned $250,000 for his win on the show. He also appeared in People magazine, in addition to a number of other national publications and national TV shows.

Hoover’s coaching resume spans from building a successful youth program, to an assistant coach at Washington High School and a volunteer assistant at Cornell College for two years. In just one year with the Auburn A-Team Junior program, he doubled the number of participants by creating a strong network of coaches and parents who wanted to build a lasting program.

As an athlete, Hoover was a two-time Iowa state champion, a Fargo and Asics All-American, a member of the USA Junior World Team and a national freestyle champion. He was a member of four NCAA Division I national championship teams and a 2016 inductee to the Dan Gable National Wrestling Hall of fame.

“My goal as the head coach of Auburn High School wrestling will be to create student-athletes who are as successful in the classroom and community as they are on the wrestling mat,” Hoover said.

“I am excited to work with Matthew Hoover as his coaching philosophy is aligned with the needs of our student athletes. He will be able to build on the strong program already established at AHS, and create a team that is respected for their wrestling, as well as their character,” said Katie Henry, Auburn High School athletic director.