Willamette University Women's Basketball

Swadener was previously the associate head coach of women's basketball at Portland State University. In her first four seasons with the Bearcats, Swadener began the process of rebuilding the women's basketball program. During 2015-16, with no seniors on the roster, Willamette earned a 12-13 overall record. The Bearcats ranked fifth in NCAA Division III in 3-point shooting at 38.6%. WU was 27th in the nation with 7.2 three-pointers made per game. Prior to arriving at Willamette, Swadener was an assistant coach at Portland State for five seasons. She was hired as an assistant coach at PSU in 2007 and quickly earned a promotion to associate head coach in 2008. At PSU, she served as the team's recruiting coordinator, scouting coordinator and academic coordinator. In addition she has been the communication liaison between the team, support staff and administrative staff. She has mentored and trained the assistant coaches. Her recruiting efforts led to Eryn Jones, Courtney VanBrocklin and Kate Lanz to choose Portland State. Jones was named Big Sky Conference Most Valuable Player in 2010-11, VanBrocklin was chosen Big Sky Newcomer of the Year in 2010-11 and Lanz was named Big Sky Newcomer of the Year in 2011-12. As the academic coordinator for the PSU women's basketball team, she monitored the academic efforts of the Vikings. Two of PSU's players earned Academic All-America recognition from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) during her time with the Vikings. Swadener coached Portland State's guards from 2007-08 through 2009-10, including two-time First Team All-Big Sky Conference selection Claire Faucher. In 2010-11 and 2011-12, Swadener was assigned to the post players on the roster, including Kelli Valentine, who earned First Team All-Big Sky honors. While working at Portland State, Swadener was active in getting the women's basketball team involved with Special Olympics. She coached the Washington County "A" basketball team within Special Olympics Oregon and included PSU players as assistant coaches. Many of her players also participated in open gym time with athletes from Special Olympics. She hopes to develop a similar program at Willamette. Swadener's extensive coaching experience with the Vikings has added to her overall knowledge as a coach. Prior to coaching at PSU, she was an assistant basketball coach at Boise State University from 1997-98 through 2001-02, was an assistant coach at Idaho State University in 2002-03, was an assistant coach at the University of Oregon from 2003-04 through 2005-06, and was an assistant coach at Princeton University in 2006-07. Swadener was the head girls' junior varsity coach and assistant girls varsity coach at Marist High School in Eugene, Ore., in 1995-96 and 1996-97. As a collegiate athlete, Swadener competed on the University of Oregon women's basketball team from 1989-90 through 1992-93. She received Pac-10 Academic Honors three times. She was a representative on the Team Council, a group of athletes providing a liaison between Oregon's student-athletes and the administration. She received the Centurion Award from Oregon in 1992, as one of the top 100 all-around students attending the university. Swadener received a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Movement Science from the University of Oregon in June of 1994. She earned a Master of Science degree from Boise State University in Exercise and Sport Science in December of 2010.