The end of an incredible era of winning has arrived. After 31 years as Edinboro University’s women’s basketball coach, Stan Swank has announced his retirement.
Swank completed his 31st season as Edinboro’s head coach recently. He departs as the all-time winningest coach in PSAC basketball history, both men’s and women’s basketball, with a 581-305 record. He broke the PSAC record for career victories with his 560th career win on December 2 at Mansfield, breaking the record previously held by Bloomsburg’s Charles Chronister.
When he visited campus 31 years ago, Swank was drawn to the athletics facilities and the academic programs that could promote the recruitment of quality student-athletes.
“It had all the attributes to build a successful program,” said Swank, who found his niche at Edinboro as his wife, Gail, fell in love with the community. “I stayed here because it was a great place to raise my two sons.”
Swank entered the 2017-18 season ranked tenth among active Division II coaches in wins, and was 19th all-time in overall victories. He ranked 35th in career winning percentage (.648). He was the longest-tenured coach in the PSAC. Add in four seasons as the head coach at Parkland Junior College, and Swank has 685 career collegiate victories.
The 2017-18 Fighting Scots enjoyed one of the finest seasons of Swank’s long tenure. Edinboro finished with a 27-4 record, tied for the second-highest win total in school history. It marked the eighth straight year with 20-or-more wins. During that period, Edinboro has had a 193-50 record.
Edinboro went on to claim its fifth PSAC championship under Swank in dominating fashion. The Fighting Scots defeated 24th ranked California(Pa.), 89-45, in the quarterfinals, followed by a 106-78 triumph over West Chester in the semifinals, snapping the Golden Rams’ 18-game winning streak. Edinboro claimed the PSAC title with a 77-66 victory over Millersville.
With the championship, Edinboro earned the PSAC’s automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional, and was seeded fourth. The Fighting Scots defeated fifth-seed Virginia State, 80-55, in the first round before suffering a 79-75 loss to eighth-seeded Bowie State in the semifinals. Edinboro would finish 13th in the final WBCA Division II Top 25.
Following the season, Swank was named the WBCA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. In 2017, he was inducted into the Metro Erie Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He was previously inducted into the Edinboro Athletic Hall of Fame.
Swank said in terms of basketball, winning PSAC championships and succeeding in the NCAA tournaments have been highlights of his Edinboro tenure. But the most rewarding aspect of coaching at Edinboro goes deeper than any success on the court.
“The best highlight has been watching players graduate and go on to be very successful in society,” said Swank, who hopes to continue coaching at some level to continue developing young athletes. “It has been very exciting and rewarding to watch players grow as basketball players and as people. Hopefully, I was able to help some people along the way to become better and reach their goals.”
Swank coached a total of 16 WBCA/Kodak All-American’s, including at least one six of the last seven years. Ciara Rosten earned honorable mention WBCA All-American honors this past season. She was also named the PSAC West Athlete of the Year and Defensive Athlete of the Year. An Edinboro player has received one of the PSAC’s major postseason awards eight of the last ten years.
All told, Swank’s teams won 20-or-more games 14 times. He had 25 winning seasons in 31 years. He had five PSAC championship teams and 11 teams selected for the NCAA Division II Tournament. Edinboro qualifed for the PSAC postseason tournament 22 times, and reached the PSAC Championship game 11 times. In addition to 2017-18, the Fighting Scots won the PSAC title in 1989-90, 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2013-14.
In the NCAA Division II Tournament, Swank guided Edinboro to the Final 32 five times, the Sweet 16 three times, and the Elite Eight twice.
In 2013-14, Edinboro made it three PSAC championships in the last four years, then went on to win the Atlantic Regional title to advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the second time in school history. The Fighting Scots defeated third-ranked Gannon 86-76 in the PSAC Championship. A week later the two local rivals met again in the Atlantic Regional semifinals in Glenville, W.Va., with Edinboro prevailing 77-69. It marked the fourth win in the season over the Lady Knights.
Edinboro rallied for a come-from-behind 82-76 win over 14th-ranked Bloomsburg in the regional championship game. The Fighting Scots grabbed an early lead against Cal Poly Pomona in the national quarterfinals before eventually falling by an 81-61 count at the Erie Insurance Arena in nearby Erie, Pa.
The Fighting Scots finished with a 27-6 record, with 11 and nine-game winning streaks. The team finished the year ranked eighth in the USA Today Sports Division II Top 25 Coaches’ poll, the fourth straight year ranked in the final top 25 and the highest final ranking in school history.
The honors poured in for Swank and the Fighting Scots. Swank was named the WBCA Atlantic Region 2 Coach of the Year and was one of eight finalists for the WBCA Coach of the Year Award, the Pat Summitt Award. He was previously named the PSAC West Coach of the Year after the Fighting Scots finished with a 15-1 record in league play. It was the seventh time he was named the PSAC West Coach of the Year.
Edinboro made its first-ever appearance in the Elite Eight in 1996-97. The Fighting Scots finished as the PSAC West co-champions and the PSAC Tournament runner-up, with Swank once again earning Coach of the Year honors. The Scots then posted three victories, including a 70-68 win over High Point in the finals, to win the NCAA Division II East Regional title and earn a berth in the NCAA Elite Eight. The Fighting Scots would fall to a powerful North Dakota team in the Elite Eight, ending the year at 24-9, at the time the second highest win total in school history.
Swank’s 2011-12 squad posted the most wins in school history, finishing with a 30-2 record. Edinboro opened the season with a school record 24 straight wins and climbed as high as second in the national rankings before suffering a one-point loss to Mercyhurst in overtime.
Edinboro ran off wins over California(Pa.), West Chester, and Bloomsburg to win the PSAC Tournament, winning by at least 16 points in each contest. The Fighting Scots earned the right to host the Atlantic Regional, and opened with wins over West Chester and Indiana(Pa.). With a trip to the Elite Eight on the line, Shaw handed Edinboro just its second loss of the season, 70-53. Swank was named the PSAC West and Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.
Photo Courtesy EU Athletics
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