After leading Franklin Pierce University (N.H.) to back-to-back NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearances, Mark Swasey enters his first season as head coach of the California University of Pennsylvania women’s basketball program in 2009-10.
Swasey led the Ravens to the 2009 NCAA Division II national title game and a school record 29 wins. For his efforts, he was named Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)/Russell East Region Coach of the Year after leading Franklin Pierce to the Northeast-10 (NE-10) regular season and tournament championship, along with a second-straight Elite Eight appearance.
Swasey, who will be inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in October, guided Franklin Pierce to unprecedented success during his seven-year tenure, compiling a 124-85 overall record (.593 winning percentage). Over the last four years, the Ravens posted an impressive 89-37 record (.706) with an 8-2 record in two NCAA Tournament appearances (2008, 2009).
Overall, he holds a 180-111 (.619) career record in 10 seasons, which includes a three-year stint at Division III Norwich University (Vt.) prior to coaching Franklin Pierce.
Swasey coached Franklin Pierce to back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths, establishing the school record for wins each season and earning consecutive NCAA Regional Championships. Last year, the Ravens posted a 29-6 overall record and opened Elite Eight play with an 88-73 win over Cal U before losing to Minnesota State University-Mankato in the highest scoring national championship game in NCAA Division II history, 103-94.
While with Franklin Pierce, Swasey tutored two-time WBCA All-American and two-time NE-10 Player of the Year Johannah Leedham. Over the last two seasons, Leedham compiled 1,557 points and 440 rebounds and was selected the 2008 State Farm/WBCA Division II Player of the Year as only a sophomore.
Swasey joined the Raven program prior to the 2002-03 season and in only his fourth year Swasey mentored Franklin Pierce to the 2006 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division II Championship – the school’s first post-season championship since the 1991-92 season.
In addition to success on the court, Swasey’s teams at Franklin Pierce excelled in the classroom. Five players have earned NE-10 All-Academic honors since the laurel first was awarded in 2004-05. During the 2007-08 campaign, the Ravens compiled a team grade-point average of 3.399 to rank among the top 25 in the nation.
Before coming to Franklin Pierce, Swasey coached at Norwich for three years and guided the Lady Cadets to a 56-26 record (.683) and three appearances in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship game.
A native of New Hampshire, Swasey boasts NAIA coaching experience as well. He served as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Black Hills State University (S.D.) during 1998-99 season when the Jackets lost in the NAIA II Elite Eight to the eventual national champions.
He initially started coaching at Keene State College (N.H.) in 1992 and earned his master’s degree in education while serving as an assistant coach for the Owls in their final years as a Division II program.
Swasey, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Lyndon State College (Vt.), and his wife Jennifer have two daughters, Addison Elizabeth and Avery Marie.
