Wrestling
Roper, Lee
Lee Roper
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- lee.roper@uni.edu
- Phone:
- 273-6473
Lee Roper completed his eighth year as a full-time coach with the UNI wrestling program in 2024-25. He was a volunteer coach in the 2015-16 season.
Roper is the co-Âfounder of Compound Wrestling Facilities in McDonough, Georgia. Under Roper’s leadership since its inception in 2008 until 2015, the club coached 13 wrestlers who advanced as Division I athletes, including former Panther AllÂ-Americans UNI Joey Lazor and Taylor Lujan.
 “How Lee goes about things is a fit for our program and how we are trying to raise men,” said head coach Doug Schwab. “I saw how he related to his club wrestlers and built that up. We have very similar philosophies in our lives and how we want to build a program.”
Roper was a fourÂ-year starter at Appalachian State University from 2001-06 and an NCAA qualifier in 2003. He earned all-conference honors in 2002 and 2003.
As a prep athlete, Roper was an AllÂ-American and twoÂ-time state champion from Madison, Georgia.
 “He adds some expertise in areas we don’t have,” said Schwab. “We have brought in a middleÂ-weight guy to fill that role. He was highly sought after, but this is the place he wanted to be.”
Schwab said Roper’s desire to be at UNI is apparent when he is talking to student-Âathletes.
“I came to UNI, because I believe in the passion and vision the coaching staff and athletes have set in place,” said Roper. “I wake up every day excited knowing national championships are possible at Northern Iowa.”
Roper and his wife, Beka, were married in the summer of 2017.
Roper is the co-Âfounder of Compound Wrestling Facilities in McDonough, Georgia. Under Roper’s leadership since its inception in 2008 until 2015, the club coached 13 wrestlers who advanced as Division I athletes, including former Panther AllÂ-Americans UNI Joey Lazor and Taylor Lujan.
 “How Lee goes about things is a fit for our program and how we are trying to raise men,” said head coach Doug Schwab. “I saw how he related to his club wrestlers and built that up. We have very similar philosophies in our lives and how we want to build a program.”
Roper was a fourÂ-year starter at Appalachian State University from 2001-06 and an NCAA qualifier in 2003. He earned all-conference honors in 2002 and 2003.
As a prep athlete, Roper was an AllÂ-American and twoÂ-time state champion from Madison, Georgia.
 “He adds some expertise in areas we don’t have,” said Schwab. “We have brought in a middleÂ-weight guy to fill that role. He was highly sought after, but this is the place he wanted to be.”
Schwab said Roper’s desire to be at UNI is apparent when he is talking to student-Âathletes.
“I came to UNI, because I believe in the passion and vision the coaching staff and athletes have set in place,” said Roper. “I wake up every day excited knowing national championships are possible at Northern Iowa.”
Roper and his wife, Beka, were married in the summer of 2017.
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