Head coach of cross-country and track and field, Elmer Swanson led the Cardinal men’s teams for 30 years and the women’s teams from their first season, in 1976. Following his retirement in 1993, he continued to coach part-time for 4 more years. Over his illustrious career, the men went 156-127-1 and the women 144-42-4.
As an undergraduate running track at the University of Michigan, Elmer won the Big Ten championship in the high and low hurdles. He also stood out as a catcher and 1st baseman for Wolverine baseball and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers organization. But after three summers playing Class A ball, he decided his future was in coaching. He coached at his alma mater for 16 years, starting in football then moving to track, where his teams captured 9 Big Ten championships.
Lured to Wesleyan in 1963, Elmer was unusual among his peers in coaching year-round. In his low-key style, he didn’t prescribe workouts or monitor gym time, but allowed athletes to work in their own ways. The most important attribute for a runner, he maintained, was determination. At meets Coach Swanson usually sat in the stands, under the premise, “If an athlete isn’t ready by the time he gets to the starting line, he shouldn’t start.”
Elmer’s coaching nurtured a remarkable number of exceptional performers. Among the men the trio of Jeff Galloway ’67, Amby Burfoot ’68, and Bill Rodgers ’70 is legendary. Sally Zimmer ’81 went on to national prominence. Karen Borza ’84 and Kathy Forrest ’86 were All-Americans. Allegra Burton, Amy Mortimer, and Debbie Martin, all in the class of ’87, compiled a record as seniors of 50 wins and just 2 losses, and Sarah Hann ’95 won numerous awards. In 1993 Elmer Swanson was named New England Division III cross-country coach of the year.
During his 50 years of continuous coaching, Elmer also served NCAA Division III roles as a field judge, referee, meet director, and member of executive committees. Traditionally he starts Wesleyan’s 34-year-old alumni/ae vs. varsity cross-country race. In his honor the University established the J. Elmer Swanson Award in Men’s Cross-Country (recognizing commitment to team success and individual improvement) and the annual Elmer Swanson Invitational.
From walk-ons to stars, the athletes who worked with Elmer Swanson consider him a mentor and friend as well as an outstanding coach. One of those alumni remarked, “Elmer was, and is, Wesleyan running.”
