Regardless of how success is defined, Rick Swan’s accomplishments while guiding the Colorado College volleyball program have earned him a place among the most respected head coaches in the nation.
Since taking control of the program in 1998, Swan has guided the Tigers to a 579-175 overall record, 22 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship, and a consistent place in the upper echelon of the American Volleyball Coaches Association’s national rankings. His victory total and .767 winning percentage both are program records.
In 2009, Swan guided CC to a 35-5 mark and a berth in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, where the Tigers fell to eventual national champion Washington University in four sets. Colorado College advanced to the Elite 8 by posting five-set victories over West Region rivals California Lutheran University and the University of La Verne.
CC finished that season ranked No. 7 in the final AVCA Division III Coaches Top 25 Poll, one of six times the Tigers finished a year in the Top 10. Since then, CC has won 30 or more matches nine times while dropping double-digit matches only once.
In 2017, Colorado College earned the program’s first No. 1 ranking and finished the campaign with a 33-2 record, setting a program single-season record with a .943 winning percentage. During the regular season, the Tigers posted a 7-0 mark against nationally-ranked opponents, including a sweep of Calvin College for the program's first-ever victory over an opponent ranked No. 1 at the time of the match.
That year, Swan recorded CC victory No. 500 with a sweep at Texas Lutheran University, which also set the program record with 18 consecutive wins to open a season. The Tigers capped the regular season by claiming the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season title with a 14-0 record. That mark included a pair of victories over Southwestern University and Trinity University, both of which were ranked in the top five on the dates of the matches.
In recognition of those accomplishments, Swan was named the AVCA's West Region Coach of the Year for the second time in his career, having previously received the honor in 2011.
The 2019 season may go down as one of the best coaching performances of Swan’s career. Despite a rash of injuries that sidelined three starters more than 50 combined matches, he guided the Tigers to a 32-5 record, the program’s 22nd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, and a No. 8 ranking in the final AVCA poll. He also picked up career victory No. 600 with a sweep of Randolph-Macon College on Oct. 11.
Including a two-year stint as head coach at Webster University in St. Louis, Swan’s 612 career victories and .740 winning percentage rank 15th and 20th, respectively, among active Division III coaches.
Since taking the reins of the program, eight of Swan’s players have combined for 13 AVCA All-America certificates, including Sara Boyles (2001), Emily Perkins (2009-10), Courtney Birkett (2015), Abby Holtze (2015-16) and Lizzy Counts (2017), who earned first-team honors. In addition, 17 Tigers have earned a total of 31 all-region honors during his tenure.
Swan’s rate of success is even more impressive in the SCAC, winning almost 90 percent of his matches with a 161-23 record. During its 13 seasons in the conference, Colorado College has won or shared six regular-season and five postseason championships. In the last 10 years, the Tigers have never finished lower than third in the regular-season standings or at the conference tournament.
CC players have been regular recipients of SCAC recognitions, claiming 27 first-team honors and 19 second-team selections since joining the conference in 2007. During that time, CC has won all four of the conference’s major awards, including Swan being chosen Coach of the Year five times by his peers.
Swan also has established a tradition of academic excellence within the program. During his tenure, Colorado College has earned the AVCA Team Academic Award 14 times, including each of the last seven years. With 16 total awards, CC is tied for 15th all-time in Division III and ranks first in the SCAC.
Five Tigers earned six total CoSIDA Academic all-District honors, including Meryn Grant who was named an Academic All-American as a junior in 2006.
Swan’s contributions to the sport extend to the regional and national levels, having served several terms on the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee and NCAA National Committee, as well as the AVCA’s All-America Selection Committee and Coaches Committee.
Before arriving at CC, he spent five years as head coach of the girls’ team at St. Mary’s High School in Colorado Springs. Swan’s overall record of 131-17 (.885) with the Pirates included a state 3A championship in 1996, when he earned Coach of the Year honors from The Colorado Springs Gazette, Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News. St. Mary’s also finished second (1994), third (1997) and fourth (1995) at the state tournament during his tenure as coach.
Swan has been a fixture in the local club community coaching teams, mentoring young coaches and players, and serving on the board of the Team Colorado Volleyball club. His summer youth camps have been a success for more than 20 years by promoting volleyball at the grass root levels to all ages throughout Colorado Springs.
He continues to compete in the Colorado Senior Volleyball League playing for the Springs Chickens, and helped lead the Colorado Masters to a bronze medal in the 50 and over age division at the 2019 USA Volleyball Open National Championships.
Swan and his wife, Beth, have three daughters – Mackenzie, Jocelyn and Laney (CC Class of ’21).
