John Swanson

John Swanson enjoyed a long career in education as a coach. After student-teaching and volunteer coaching at Grand Island Senior High he was hired as a football and track coach for one year at Grand Island Northwest High School. In the Spring of 1987 Coach Swanson returned to Grand Island Senior High School (GISH). He continued to coach football and track for an additional 3 years at GISH. In 1990 Coach Swanson stepped away from football and track to pursue an advanced degree and certifications focused on strength and conditioning. During that time, he coached athletes from a variety of sports at several training facilities in central Nebraska. He successfully earned his MS as well as Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and Certified Sports Performance Coach for USA Weightlifting.

In the spring of 1999 Coach Swanson was hired as the full-time strength and conditioning coach at Grand Island Senior High School. In accepting that position he became the first full-time strength and conditioning coach with advanced degrees and certifications in the State of Nebraska at the high school level. He was responsible for designing and implementing in-season and off-season training programs as well as summer programs for 12 male and female varsity sports. Grand Island Athletics developed into one of the premier athletic programs in Nebraska during his tenure. Grand Island teams and individuals earned multiple State Championships and Runner-Up titles, District Championships, and Conference Championships. A multitude of athletes moved from GISH to successfully compete at every level of college athletics.

Coach Swanson published several articles in strength and conditioning journals and eventually worked as a peer reviewer for the Journal of Strength and Conditioning (JSC) where he assisted aspiring authors to edit and publish their work in the JSC. He was a regular presenter at clinics in the Midwest and traveled extensively, assisting schools with their strength conditioning programs. His work in the profession earned him CSCS *D (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists with Distinction), and RSCC *E (Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach Emeritus).

Coach Swanson retired in 2018. He volunteered coached the throws in track and field at Grand Island Northwest High School for 4 years and continues to share his knowledge and experience in strength and conditioning with schools, coaches, and athletes in the Midwest.

Coach Swanson lives with his wife on a small homestead in central Nebraska where he enjoys hunting with his dogs and produces vegetables, eggs, roasting chickens, honey and hay. He is most proud of his 3 sons presently serving in our Armed Forces and 6 grandchildren.