CWC Women’s Basketball Coach to Retire

Ken Swartz, head women’s basketball coach at Central Wyoming College, announced February 16, he will retire at the end of the 2018 season, for good. The 74 year old coach came out of retirement a year and half ago to coach the lady Rustlers on an interim basis, and stayed for two seasons.

“I missed being around young people and the association I have with other junior college coaches in the area. My intention was initially to only be here for one year, and when Steve Barlow came to me in January and asked me what I wanted to do, I said I wanted to coach for one more year and bring in 10-11 freshman and then I would be done,” Swartz said. 

“Ken joined us as the interim coach for the 2016-17 season after a failed search for a permanent coach. He then agreed to stay on for another year to help build the program and he will now leave us in great shape with nine returners. I appreciate the work he has done and the positive culture he has created within the program,” said Athletic Director Steve Barlow. The Lady Rustlers are high performers in the classroom as well as on the basketball court.

Swartz began the 2016 season with only eight girls able to play as two were out with injuries, so recruiting was high on his list.

“My goal was to recruit 10-11 new players for the 17-18 season and create a competitive team on the floor,” Swartz said. He accomplished his goal as he brought in 11 freshman of which five are now starting and the Rustlers are presently 8-18.

 

I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay at CWC, and I hope that Coach Pinner and I have made some impact on young people’s lives while here. I think the future is bright for the basketball program and whoever comes in will only need to fill three or four positions. I appreciate very much the support of Steve Barlow and the staff and administration at Central Wyoming. ”

Coach Ken Swartz

Swartz initially retired from Western Wyoming in 2014 after an outstanding 14 year career. He has won 660 games in his 43 year career and in 2004 was inducted into the Wyoming Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Swartz has been named Region IX Coach of the Year twice and conference Coach of the Year twice. He has 24 years of high school coaching and 19 at the college level, and his career spans five decades.

Swartz will coach his final games on February 17, 19, and 24 in the Rustler gym.