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University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present University Relations
12-29-1966
Walter C. Schwank accepts new University of Montana position; Jack Swarthout named Athletic Director, head football coach
University of Montana--Missoula. Office of University Relations
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Recommended Citation University of Montana--Missoula. Office of University Relations, "Walter C. Schwank accepts new University of Montana position; Jack Swarthout named Athletic Director, head football coach" (1966). University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present. 2306. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/newsreleases/2306
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FROM INFORMATION SERVICES MISSOULA, MONTANA 50801 PHONE 243-2522 A R E A CODE 400
FOR RELEASE IMMEDIATELY stuart 12-29-66 SCHWANK ACCEPTS NEW UM POSITION; SWARTHOUT NAMED ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
Dr. Walter C. Schwank has accepted a new position at the University of
Montana and UM graduate Jack Swarthout has been named athletic director and head
football coach, it was reported today (Dec. 29) by Robert T. Pantzer, UM president.
The appointments are effective February 1, 1967.
Dr. Schwank, who has been director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics
for the University since 1961, will become chairman of the Health and Physical
Education Department and coordinator of the Summer Session.
Swarthout, a prominent high school athletic director and football coach
in Olympia, Wash., and a former assistant of Coach Darrell Royal at the University
of Texas, will succeed Hugh C. Davidson in the UM football coaching position.
Davidson's contract terminates on January 31, 1967.
"Swarthout is well known in Montana," President Pantzer said. "I am extremely
pleased he is willing to return to his alma mater in this important position and
I am glad to procure a person of such background and abilities."
Accompanying the staff changes will be a separation of the athletic activities
from the health and physical education program. "We do not feel these programs
are compatible from an administrative point of view," said Pantzer.
"Dr. Schwank had a choice to continue in his capacity of athletic director
or to move into the new position," Pantzer continued. "He has selected an office
of greater academic responsibility in which we are fortunate to have a man of his
ability and experience."
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The University has plans to strengthen and expand the offerings of the
health and physical education and summer session programs, according to Pantzer.
"The UM deans believe the 1966 Summer Session was considerably weakened by the
absence of a coordinator and they recently urged the employment of such a person
for future sessions. It is expected there also will be increased emphasis on the
preparation of students for the field of recreation."
Dr. Schwank has a Ph.D. degree in physical education from the University of
Iowa and is current president of the Division of Men's Athletics, American
Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He played an instru mental role in the formation of the Big Sky Conference and has been responsible for a substantial increase in the membership of the UM Century Club.
He has organized and conducted for the past five years a summer Family
Camping Workshop which has attracted more than 400 participants from the United
States and Canada.
Swarthout has been athletic director and head football coach for Olympia
High School since 1959. His Olympia football teams have compiled an overall record
of 50 wins, 14 losses and one tie, capturing four championships and two second place
finishes during seven seasons of competition in Washington's top AA Conference. He
is presently coaching the Olympia basketball team and teaching U.S. history.
From 1957 to 1959, Swarthout served as backfield coach and recruiter under
Darrell Royal at the University of Texas. He was freshman coach under Royal
at the University of Washington in 1956. From 1947 to 1956, Swarthout coached
football, baseball and basketball at Hoquiam High School in Hoquiam, Wash.
Born in Prosser, Wash., in February, 1920, Swarthout graduated from the
University of Montana in 1942 with a B.A. degree in political science. He did
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ATHLETIC CHANGES 12-29-66 Page 3
> graduate work in the same field at UM in 1942-43 and 1946. He was a regular left halfback and end on the Grizzly grid teams coached by Doug Fessenden in 1939, 1940 and 1941.
Swarthout was a first lieutenant with the U.S. Army paratroopers in the
South Pacific, 1943-46.
Mrs. Swarthout is the former Beverly Richmond of Yonkers, N. Y. The couple has three daughters and one son. Swarthout's brother, William, also a UM alumnus
and football athlete, is principal of Great Falls High School. Swarthout's mother, Mrs. W. L. Swarthout, also lives in Great Falls.
Davidson, a former Colorado University grid star, assumed the duties of
UM head football coach in 1964 after serving six years as backfield coach. He
inherited a team which had won only one of 10 games in 1963. His 1964 squad posted
a 3-6 overall record and placed third in the Big Sky Conference. He guided the
1965 Grizzlies to a 4-6 overall mark and another third place conference finish.
The Grizzlies won only one of nine games in the past season and finished in the
conference cellar.
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