Saul Phillips, head men’s basketball coach at Northern State University, announced today the hiring of Jared Swanson as the team’s top assistant coach. Swanson is no stranger to the Phillips system as a member of his staffs at both North Dakota State and Ohio.
“I’m extremely excited to add Jared to my staff,” said Phillips. “His experience level and familiarity with how I coach makes him a perfect fit. His extensive ties with Minnesota and the Dakotas will benefit us greatly from a recruiting standpoint.”
In ten years at the Division I level, Swanson has mentored/developed 21 All-Conference award-winning student-athletes, including five all-first team honorees, three freshman of the year, and one conference player of the year.
“My family and I are extremely excited to be returning to the Midwest and for this opportunity to become a part of Northern State University,” noted Swanson. “The tradition of the basketball program is second to none, and I cannot wait to get started working with our student-athletes. I believe in the vision that Coach Phillips has in maintaining the high standards set here, both on and off the court.”
Swanson most recently spent that last five seasons at Ohio University as an Assistant Coach (2017-19), and prior to that as the Director of Men’s Basketball Operations (2014-17). In 2015-16, the Bobcats produced the second biggest turnaround in program history, going 23-12 overall with a trip to the CBI semifinals.
Prior to his time at OU, Swanson spent one season at San Jose State and two seasons at North Dakota State as the Director of Men’s Basketball Operations. The Bison went 41-24 in his two seasons, earning a berth into the College Basketball Invitational each year.
Swanson began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Boise State University. The Broncos went 22-13 overall and advanced to the semifinal round of the CBI. From 2008-10, Swanson spent time as an assistant coach at Heritage High School in Vancouver, Washington and as the head coach at Payson High School in Payson, Arizona. Before starting his coaching career, Swanson played four seasons of professional basketball in Australia, garnering two League-MVP awards, while leading the league in scoring two years.
He is a 2003 graduate of Concordia College with a bachelor’s degree in Social Studies Education, and 2011 graduate of Idaho State University with a master’s degree in Physical Education in Athletic Administration. Swanson played collegiately at Fergus Falls Community College where he was an all-state and all-region selection, as well as the 2000 Fergus Falls Student-Athlete of the Year. Swanson moved on to the University of North Dakota and then to Concordia College. He closed out his college career as a MIAC first team selection for the Cobbers.
Jared and his wife, Jessica, have two sons, Jett and Nash, and one daughter, Luna.
Swanson Joins Northern State Men’s Basketball Staff as an Assistant Coach
