Swarthmore College Marian Ware Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation Brad Koch has announced the promotion of Shane Loeffler ’16 to head men’s basketball coach, effective April 7. Loeffler, who has served on the men’s basketball staff under Landry Kosmalski for seven seasons, will become the 32nd head coach in the program’s history.
Loeffler takes over the reins after playing a pivotal role in men’s basketball’s most successful era. A Swarthmore graduate, he spent 12 seasons alongside Kosmalski as both a player and coach. Loeffler played for the Garnet from 2012 to 2016 before transitioning to the coaching staff in 2017. Since joining the staff, the program has compiled a 170-39 overall record, boasting an .813 winning percentage with two NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances and three Centennial Conference Championships.
“Congratulations to Shane on a well deserved promotion to Head Coach of Swarthmore’s Men’s Basketball Program,” said Koch. “Shane’s overall disposition, passion for the game, and commitment to the ideals of the College have been evident since he arrived on campus as a former student-athlete. His ascension through the coaching ranks and earned credibility has prepared him for this moment, and I believe he will benefit our men’s basketball program in very positive ways. Shane’s high character is always on full display, and I am thrilled to enrich his connection to the College and our community!”
Loeffler joined the coaching staff at the start of the 2017-18 season. That year, the team set a program record for wins, achieved its highest national ranking in history, and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The following year, the Garnet set their current program record with 29 wins and peaked at No. 2 in the national rankings. The team won its second Centennial Conference Championship in program history and finished the season as national runner-up, making their first of two Final Four appearances in school history.
The Garnet were poised for another national championship appearance in 2019-20 until the NCAA Tournament was canceled due to the pandemic. Swarthmore finished the covid-shortened season as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation with a 28-1 overall record, and were the last unbeaten team in all of college basketball.
Heading into the 2020-2021 season, Loeffler was promoted to associate head coach. Despite a year-long hiatus due to the pandemic, the Garnet returned to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-straight season with Loeffler on staff. The team won 22 games with a young nucleus and was ranked as high as No. 8 nationally. The following year, Swarthmore put it all together with a 28-win season, advancing to its second Final Four appearance. The team claimed its first of two consecutive Centennial Championships and finished the season ranked No. 3 in the nation.
Swarthmore cut down the nets once more in 2023-24 with its second-straight conference championship victory over Johns Hopkins University. The team made their sixth-straight NCAA appearance with Loeffler, whose role and responsibilities expanded each season.
“Shane is the natural and perfect choice to lead the Swarthmore men’s basketball program,” said Kosmalski. “He played a vital role in the team’s rise to prominence as a player, and then helped solidify our status as a Top-10 program as associate head coach. More importantly, as a proud alumnus, Shane is incredibly passionate about Swarthmore and will represent the College with integrity at all times. People will soon know what I have known for the last eight years – Shane Loeffler is one of the best coaches in the entire country.”
Before making an impact as a member of the coaching staff, Loeffler played a key role in establishing the team’s trademark culture as a student-athlete. He played four seasons for the Garnet while earning his bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in history. A guard from West Grove, Pa., Loeffler was a freshman on the first Kosmalski-led squad, which went 7-18 after winning just three games the previous season. The team improved its win total in each of Loeffler’s four seasons on the roster, culminating in a program-record 22 wins and a Centennial Conference runner-up finish during his senior year.
A key contributor during his senior season, Loeffler appeared in all 30 games, making six starts. Loeffler saved his best performance for the biggest game of his collegiate career, scoring a career-high 18 points with six rebounds and five three-pointers in the Centennial Championship at Franklin & Marshall College. He rose to the occasion with five consecutive double-digit performances leading up to the championship, earning a spot in the starting lineup for the final six games of the season.
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to President Val Smith, Brad Koch, Landry Kosmalski, and all of those who supported me in being named head men’s basketball coach,” said Loeffler. “I am humbled by the overwhelming support I have received from the team, alumni, community, and my peers. Swarthmore College is a life-changing institution and I am fortunate that it will positively affect my family’s life for years to come. This program’s foundation is strong and our team is ready to exceed the high standards that have been established. I will work tirelessly to help our student-athletes reach their highest potential on and off the court and I look forward to the next era of Swarthmore men’s basketball.”
The program enters this new era following a promising season from its young core, which won 17 games despite graduating two of the top players in school history. Zander Jimenez looks to take the next step after being named D3Hoops.com Region V Rookie of the Year and Centennial Conference Rookie of the Year this past season. The standout led the team with 15.1 points per game and logged the most minutes on the squad.
In total, the Garnet return all seven of their leading scorers from the 2024-25 season, including rising senior Eddie Paquette, who averaged 12.3 points and 6.1 rebounds in 25 starts.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:
“It’s hard to imagine someone who cares about Swarthmore Basketball more than Shane. I’m not only proud of him as his brother, but proud of what he has done for Swarthmore. Shane has been a part of the program as a player and coach, and has been integral in turning the Garnet into a national championship contender. He is a great coach and will be a great ambassador for the college.” – Josh Loeffler – Head Coach, Loyola University (MD)
“Shane Loeffler is an innovative, high-energy basketball coach who has earned the opportunity to lead the Swarthmore men’s basketball program. His contributions have been vital to the successes of Swarthmore, and its championships. Having seen his energy and coaching ability first hand, I know Swarthmore Men’s Basketball is heading towards continued growth and more championship basketball under his leadership.” – John Griffin III, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Bucknell University
“Huge congratulations to Shane and to our program for this fantastic hire! Anyone who’s been around the team knows what a huge part of their success Shane has been. He has a deep understanding of the system and how to build a nationally relevant program at Swarthmore, and no doubt will continue to model, teach, and maintain a culture of excellence built on attention to detail, mental toughness, and equanimity. Shane is the perfect choice to ensure continuity of the incredible program Landry built.” – Jedidiah Siev, Swarthmore Faculty Athletic Representative
