Dan Swanstrom new Cornell head football coach

Might as well start a thread on this new era of Big Red football. Hope he assembles a great staff of assistants.

Dan Swanstrom history before being named Cornell head football coach 12/7/2023. Dan Swanstrom is the only Ivy HC who can be called a Rhodes scholar.

Born	        ~1982 age 40–41
Alma mater	Rhodes College '05, Memphis, ~2000 students, 123 acres, Liberty League, Southern Athletic Association 

Player 
2001–2004	Rhodes College '05
2005	        Darmstadt Diamonds (Germany)
Position	Quarterback

Coach           HC unless noted
2005	        Stratford HS (TX) (assistant)
2006–2008	Redlands (QB/WR)
2008	        Johns Hopkins (QB)
2009–2013	Johns Hopkins (AHC/OC/QB)
2014–2016	Penn (QB)
2017–2021	Ithaca
2022–2023	Penn (OC/QB)

Head coaching record
Overall	        32–11
Bowls	        1–0
Championships   3 Liberty League (2017–2018, 2021)

Per Wikipedia

Rhodes bio of Dan Swanstrom:

>>> One of the top quarterbacks in Rhodes history, two-time team captain Dan Swanstrom held program records in single-season passing yards and yards of total offense for almost 15 years.

Swanstrom took over the leaderboard during his playing days after breaking four of Hall of Famer Craig Solomon’s records. He held the career passing yards and total offense records from his senior season (2004) until 2017. At the time of his induction, Swanstrom is second all-time at Rhodes in career total offense (8,347 yards) and third all-time in passing touchdowns (55). His sophomore and junior seasons he threw for 2,622 and 2,634 yards respectively, and during his junior campaign he totaled 2,947 yards of total offense, the seventh-highest average in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference history and 12th-highest in NCAA Division III.

He earned second team All-SCAC honors his sophomore and senior seasons. Swanstrom was named the 2003 SCAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year, one of four Rhodes players to ever earn SCAC Player of the Year honors. He held two of the top three single-game total offense marks until 2017, with 488 yards against Sewanee in 2002 and 422 yards against Rose-Hulman in 2004.

His senior year he was a finalist for the prestigious Gagliardi Award for the most outstanding Division III football player, one of only 10 Division III players selected nationally, and one of only two Rhodes football players ever selected as a finalist. In SCAC career history, Swanstrom ranks fifth in total yards of offense (8,347), sixth in total passing yards (7,540), seventh in total yards of offense per game (214), eighth in career passing touchdowns (55), and 12th in total passing yards per game (193.3).

“In 35 years of coaching college football, Dan was the most competitive and coachable player that I have ever been around,” says Joe White, former Lynx head coach. “He loved the game with an unmatched passion, and would do whatever it took to win! His preparation was intense every day of the week, and he willed himself to achieve. Even when we added a play action pass vs. Trinity and Dan struggled with the footwork all week, it was executed flawlessly when called in the game. When I asked him about it afterwards, he said he walked through it 100 times at the hotel the night before. My sons call Dan my favorite son.”

Swanstrom also played in the German Football League with the Darmstadt Diamonds after graduation, and continues his football career as a coach to this day. Following coaching stints at Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Redlands, Swanstrom has been the head coach at Ithaca College since 2017, going 16-3 with two Liberty League regular season championships. His Penn team won two Ivy League Championships, and Redlands was the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion. During his six-year tenure at Johns Hopkins, the Blue Jays won four Centennial Conference championships, going 48-10.

In recognition for his achievements on the gridiron and continued success as a coach, we are honored to induct Daniel Swanstrom into the Rhodes College Athletic Hall of Fame this 15th day of November, 2019.

Cornell either works at internet speed in hiring or the process has been running in the background since before the season ended: 17 days from the departure announcement of David Archer to the hiring of Dan Swanstrom.

Hopefully not long enough to lose recruits. Hopefully early enough to sway players choosing among the Ivies.

Swanstrom fits the mold of other currently successful and long-tenured Ivy coaches except Princeton player/alum/coach Bob Surace: played and or coached in D-II or D-III, experience coaching in the Northeast, age around 40. Swanstrom was a Penn assistant but that was after four years as IC HC. Wonder if he kept the house in Ithaca, used it as a faculty/staff rental.

Looks like an outstanding hire. Strong record at Hopkins & Penn. Winner as HC at IC. History of recruiting at elite colleges & certainly knows the area. Second the need for Cornell to provide the resources he needs. Can’t wait for him to get started!

CAS
Second the need for Cornell to provide the resources he needs.

If we were putting together a proposal for Cornell, what would those resources look like?

• Money for facilities
• Money for staff
• Money for recruiting (Relax, I meant for travel and comms strategy. Probably.)
• Ahem flexibility in admission
• Ahem understanding in supporting academic progress

The new indoor practice facility slated for construction this Fall is a good start. But, yes the new coach needs all the resources necessary to recruit student athletes and hire and retain a quality staff.

Was told that Cornell is going to be pouring in more resources into football but have no idea what that entails.

I think Dan Swanstrom is an awesome hire and this guy has won everywhere he has coached. Like I have said many times, he may be a great hire and we are lucky to have Swanstrom on the East Hill, but the Cornell admin has to be willing to support the football program or he will be another 3 and out. One of the highlights of this hire is Dan Swanstrom was the head coach at Division III powerhouse Ithaca College for five years, so no on the job training is needed. Wonderful news and Go Big Red!!!

Ken711
The new indoor practice facility slated for construction this Fall is a good start. But, yes the new coach needs all the resources necessary to recruit student athletes and hire and retain a quality staff.

37 varsity sports, 1 practice facility. Does a 3-4 football team get priority over an 8-3 soccer team? And if the women's soccer team is 9-2?

rss77
Was told that Cornell is going to be pouring in more resources into football but have no idea what that entails.

Long overdue if they want to seriously compete for Ivy Championships with the rest of the Ivy League, great to hear.

A familiar name, and a great hire in my lay opinion. Ken711 called it. Looking forward to seeing how Mr. Swanstrom and the program follow through.

rss77
Was told that Cornell is going to be pouring in more resources into football but have no idea what that entails.

I am hopeful that this is more than greasing up the donor works in tandem with bringing in a new coach. But no doubt there will be some of that as well.

billhoward

Ken711
The new indoor practice facility slated for construction this Fall is a good start. But, yes the new coach needs all the resources necessary to recruit student athletes and hire and retain a quality staff.

37 varsity sports, 1 practice facility. Does a 3-4 football team get priority over an 8-3 soccer team? And if the women's soccer team is 9-2?

I mean, what do they all do right now with 0 practice facilities??

I think the indoor practice really benefits men's and women's lacrosse more than football and soccer. Football and soccer is during the summer and fall seasons when the weather is actually nice in Ithaca. Those two programs may use the indoor facility in November, but most of the team's conditioning during the off season is in the weight room or simply running, skipping rope etc. I am sure both football and soccer will also use the indoor facility for scrimmages, etc., but overall it probably benefits men's and women's lacrosse the most. It also benefits softball and baseball teams. Regardless the new indoor facility is great news and Go Big Red!!!

Encouraging presser introducing our new HC. Both Ryan Lombardi & Nicki Moore spoke of additional resources being provided for football. Can’t wait for Coach Swanstrom to get started.

CAS
Encouraging presser introducing our new HC. Both Ryan Lombardi & Nicki Moore spoke of additional resources being provided for football. Can’t wait for Coach Swanstrom to get started.

Video here:[youtu.be]

CAS
Encouraging presser introducing our new HC. Both Ryan Lombardi & Nicki Moore spoke of additional resources being provided for football. Can’t wait for Coach Swanstrom to get started.

Very encouraging.

nice. But in a Cornell world going from $5 to $20 would be a huge leap in resources.

The Challenge facing Swanstrom or any Cornell coach:

Recruiting from a limited pool of talented individuals who are within the academic index willing to forego athletic aid and a post season

Selling Cornell football against Harvard and Yale-especially "The Game" -also Princeton

History-No title since 1990-useful in negative recruiting by other Ivies

Just a comment-One would hope that Swanstrom looks at the Transfer Portal-Both Maxie Baughan and Steve Donahue both had transfers in their respective programs.

rss77
The Challenge facing Swanstrom or any Cornell coach:

Recruiting from a limited pool of talented individuals who are within the academic index willing to forego athletic aid and a post season

Selling Cornell football against Harvard and Yale-especially "The Game" -also Princeton

History-No title since 1990-useful in negative recruiting by other Ivies

Just a comment-One would hope that Swanstrom looks at the Transfer Portal-Both Maxie Baughan and Steve Donahue both had transfers in their respective programs.

Dartmouth has done pretty well recruiting against the HYP trio, with established coaching and excellent player development. Brown also had a strong run from 2005-2010. It's not going to be easy, but definitely doable with the right administration support and quality recruiting and coaching. I agree with you if Swanstrom can find some key transfers, it may speed up a turnaround,

rss77
The Challenge facing Swanstrom or any Cornell coach:

Recruiting from a limited pool of talented individuals who are within the academic index willing to forego athletic aid and a post season

Selling Cornell football against Harvard and Yale-especially "The Game" -also Princeton

History-No title since 1990-useful in negative recruiting by other Ivies

Just a comment-One would hope that Swanstrom looks at the Transfer Portal-Both Maxie Baughan and Steve Donahue both had transfers in their respective programs.

Recruiting is essential, but so is player development. Cornell might recruit mostly 2 and 3 star athletes, with an occasional 4 star, but those 2 and 3 star athletes can become 4 and maybe even 5 star athletes over the course of their four years if they are supported, well coached, and they work hard.

mike1960

rss77
The Challenge facing Swanstrom or any Cornell coach:

Recruiting from a limited pool of talented individuals who are within the academic index willing to forego athletic aid and a post season

Selling Cornell football against Harvard and Yale-especially "The Game" -also Princeton

History-No title since 1990-useful in negative recruiting by other Ivies

Just a comment-One would hope that Swanstrom looks at the Transfer Portal-Both Maxie Baughan and Steve Donahue both had transfers in their respective programs.

Recruiting is essential, but so is player development. Cornell might recruit mostly 2 and 3 star athletes, with an occasional 4 star, but those 2 and 3 star athletes can become 4 and maybe even 5 star athletes over the course of their four years if they are supported, well coached, and they work hard.

Cornell rarely gets 3 star rated players and never a 4 star for football.

scoop85

mike1960

rss77
The Challenge facing Swanstrom or any Cornell coach:

Recruiting from a limited pool of talented individuals who are within the academic index willing to forego athletic aid and a post season

Selling Cornell football against Harvard and Yale-especially "The Game" -also Princeton

History-No title since 1990-useful in negative recruiting by other Ivies

Just a comment-One would hope that Swanstrom looks at the Transfer Portal-Both Maxie Baughan and Steve Donahue both had transfers in their respective programs.

Recruiting is essential, but so is player development. Cornell might recruit mostly 2 and 3 star athletes, with an occasional 4 star, but those 2 and 3 star athletes can become 4 and maybe even 5 star athletes over the course of their four years if they are supported, well coached, and they work hard.

Cornell rarely gets 3 star rated players and never a 4 star for football.

Dartmouth and Brown are in the same boat but yet they achieved success without the 3 and 4 star recruits found HYP's rosters, so it comes down to how you develop the caliber of players you are to recruit to Cornell, and put them a system to maximize their strengths and coach them well in games. With Swantsrom coming from the offensive side of the game, I hope he's able to hire a strong group of defensive assistant coaches.

Maybe Connor Buczek and Swanstrom can double-team this guy:
[www.espn.com]

jkahn
Maybe Connor Buczek and Swanstrom can double-team this guy:
[www.espn.com]

Open secret that he's going to Notre Dame

scoop85

jkahn
Maybe Connor Buczek and Swanstrom can double-team this guy:
[www.espn.com]

Open secret that he's going to Notre Dame

Interesting, according to the linked article, Tyler Buchner transferred from Notre Dame to Alabama for football. Now that he’s no longer the starter there, he’s giving up on football and returning to Notre Dame for lacrosse. Must be the superior educational opportunities in South Bend.

Local Motion
I think Dan Swanstrom is an awesome hire and this guy has won everywhere he has coached. Like I have said many times, he may be a great hire and we are lucky to have Swanstrom on the East Hill, but the Cornell admin has to be willing to support the football program or he will be another 3 and out. One of the highlights of this hire is Dan Swanstrom was the head coach at Division III powerhouse Ithaca College for five years, so no on the job training is needed. Wonderful news and Go Big Red!!!

For recruiting, he can already speak first-hand about the charms of Ithaca.