Jack Swarthout Named Athletic Director, Head Football Coach

University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana 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 Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/newsreleases Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y 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 This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Relations at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 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." (More) ATHLETIC CHANGES 12-29-66 Page 2 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 (MORE) > 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. 30.

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