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Head Coach:
Michael Swanegan (626) 585-7783

Year at PCC: 1st Season as Head Coach

Assistant Coaches:
Jesse Ellis, Hiawatha Givens, Derek Boldon

Michael Swanegan takes over as the 14th men's basketball Head Coach in Pasadena City College history, beginning with the 2007-2008 season.

Swanegan, 49, comes to PCC after eight seasons directing SCC North Division rival Mt. San Antonio College. At Mt. SAC, Swanegan coached the Mounties to Co-SCC titles in 2002 and 2005.

Hired as a full-time coach and instructor in the Physical Education Division, Swanegan is the first full-time coach in the sport since George Terzian, who retired after the 2003-2004 season.

"This is a major step for our college in bringing in a full-time men's basketball coach that is already familiar with the competitive nature of the South Coast Conference," said PCC Athletic Director/Dean of P.E. Skip Robinson on his choice to hire Swanegan.

"Mike is a quality individual, and he's committed to making PCC a winner. People have overlooked some of our rich history in men's basketball, which includes a pair of state title teams in the late 1960s. Some of our best all-around athletes, greats like Michael Cooper, Jackie Robinson, and the Trapp brothers (John and George) all played basketball here."

Accumulating 117 victories at Mt. SAC, Swanegan’s most successful campaign was the team’s 21-6 mark in the 2004-2005 season. Swanegan’s team was ranked No. 4 in Southern California going into the state playoffs, but was upset by Moorpark in the first round. The team’s biggest win was a 23-point victory over perennial conference power Los Angeles City College that allowed Mt. SAC to finish tied for the division’s best record at 8-2.

In 2002-2003, Swanegan coached the Mounties to a 22-win season. His teams advanced to the state playoffs seven of his eight seasons, making it to the second round twice.

Before coaching at Mt. SAC (1999-2007), Swanegan had a successful 10-year prep coaching career at three high schools, Duarte, Rosemead and Rowland. He compiled a 161-85 winning record (.654 percentage), including a run of five consecutive league championship teams at Duarte High (1994-1998). His Duarte boys' teams advanced as far as the CIF Southern Section Division III semifinals three times.

He began his head coaching career at Rosemead in 1989-90 and coached the team to a 19-5 record and a league title his second and final season there. He directed Duarte from 1991-1998 and then coached one season at Rowland (18-9 record in 1998-1999) before moving on to the California Community College ranks.

Swanegan is excited about taking over the PCC men’s program, beginning with the 2007-2008 season in November. The Lancers have not won a SCC title since sharing the 1999-2000 crown with LA City.

“I’ve always felt that coaching men’s basketball at Pasadena City College is one of the greatest jobs in the state,” Swanegan said. “I know the program has been down recently, but I really feel we can bring back a winning attitude here. I have a good relationship with the area high school coaches and I’m going to work at getting some of the top local players to choose PCC, rather than leave the area.”

At Mt. SAC, Swanegan coached All-State talents and former SCC MVP’s in Marquis Poole (2002, Idaho State, All-Big Sky Conference) and Antonio Sykes (2005), plus 2005-2006 state leading scorer Rishawn Norwood. Fourteen of Swanegan’s players have moved on to receive scholarships at the Division I and II level.

A native of Camden, Arkansas, Swanegan attended Little Rock Central High, playing for a state basketball champion team as a junior in 1974-75. After playing two seasons at Paris Junior College in Texas, he competed two more collegiate seasons at Langston University in Oklahoma. He was team captain his senior season.

Swanegan earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Langston, and later completed his Master’s Degree in Education from Azusa Pacific University.

Swanegan lives in Chino Hills with his wife Linda. The couple has one son, Michael, 15, who is currently attending Diamond Ranch High School.

PCC MEN'S BASKETBALL HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

• PCC won State Championships in 1967 and 1969. The '67 team was coached by legendary NCAA coach Jerry Tarkanian

• PCC Sports Hall of Famer and former NBA LA Lakers guard Michael Cooper, considered by many as the best defensive player of his era, played for the Lancers back in 1974-76 and is one of 10 players who scored more than 1,000 points in their PCC careers.

• In 2003-2004, the Lancers finished in the State's Final 16 in the playoffs, losing to eventual state champion Compton in the SoCal Regionals

• Sports 20th Century icon Jackie Robinson played for the Pasadena Junior College basketball team, leading the 1938-39 squad to the Metropolitan Conference and State championships

• Late 1960s Lancer greats were brothers John and George Trapp, who each went on to NBA playing careers

• Recent Head Coach George Terzian, Jackie Robinson, Cooper and all-time PCC leading scorer Sam Robinson ('66-68) are all inductees in the California Community College Men's Basketball Hall of Fame

• Sam Robinson was MVP of the 1968 State Championship Tournament, followed a year later by George Trapp as MVP of the '69 State Tourney
  
  
• Horace Wormely, from the 2001-2003 basketball teams, was selected Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year in his senior season at Vanguard University in 2006