Le Moyne College head men’s basketball coach Nate Champion ’14 announced on Tuesday morning the hiring of Ben Swank as an assistant coach.
“I am extremely happy to be adding Ben to our staff,” said Champion, who is entering his third season leading his alma mater. “Ben brings a great background of experience from all divisions of college basketball. With his knowledge of the game, ability to relate to and recruit players and success as a coach at the highest level, he will be a great addition to our team!”
“I’m extremely excited to accept the position of assistant men’s basketball coach at Le Moyne College,” said Swank. “Coach Champion has done a fantastic job and I look forward to contributing to the continued success of the program. I’d like to thank Coach Champion and Athletic Director Bob Beretta for the opportunity to join the Le Moyne College community. I’m looking forward to meeting all of the players and getting to work with them. Go Dolphins!”
Swank, who was named an NABC/Under Armour 30-Under-30 Award Winner in 2016, comes to The Heights with nine years of collegiate coaching experience, spanning all three NCAA divisions. He comes to Le Moyne following one year at Tiffin University. With the Dragons, Swank was responsible for game and practice preparation and execution, recruiting, fundraising, player development and all other duties assigned by the head coach.
Prior to his time at Tiffin, he was an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay for five years. The Phoenix earned postseason berths in four of the five years, including a Horizon League Championship and NCAA Tournament berth in 2015-16, the school’s first in 20 years. Green Bay also reached the CBI in 2016-17 and the championship game of the CIT in 2018-19. The Phoenix also qualified for postseason contention again in 2019-20 before the season was ended due to COVID-19. Green Bay finished in the top four of the Horizon League in four of the five years of Swank’s time as the program compiled a 51-39 conference record. During Swank’s five seasons, he helped coach 10 All-Horizon League student-athletes and six individuals that went on to play at a professional level.
Prior to his tenure in Green Bay, Swank served as an assistant coach for two years at Florida Southern College. The Mocs went 62-6 in the stretch, won two Sunshine State Conference regular-season and tournament titles and the 2015 Division II National Championship. After going 26-5 and earning a berth in the NCAA DII South Regional in his first year in Lakeland, the Mocs went 36-1 en route to winning the national title. Kevin Capers was named an All-American both seasons of Swank’s tenure and three Mocs, including Capers, went on to play professionally after the conclusion of their collegiate careers.
Swank began his collegiate coaching career during the 2012-13 season as an assistant coach at DIII Allegheny College.
Swank attended Edinboro University, where he was a 2011 graduate and received Cum Laude honors in health and physical education. He was a four-year letterman in football as a free safety and then played basketball for the Fighting Scots as a graduate student in 2011-12. As a football student-athlete, he was named a Second-Team Academic All-American in 2008 and was a member of the team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA DII Playoffs in 2009.
Story Courtesy: Craig Lane, LeMoyne Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Information
