Bethel University Athletics

Paul Swan returns for his 19th year on Bethel’s staff after a long teaching and coaching career at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Ill. Swan followed Bethel football as a fan from 1996-99 while watching his son, Eric, play for the Royals as an offensive lineman before joining Coach Johnson’s staff.

Swan retired from teaching in 2002 after 33 years at Stevenson. He is a member of the Lake County (Ill.) Hall of Fame for his years of service as a football, basketball, and baseball coach, and also of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Swan still serves as an assistant basketball coach at Stevenson.

During Swan’s tenure as the running backs coach, Bethel has produced two All-Americans: Phil Porta ’06 and Logan Flannery ’10. Porta and Flannery, along with Mike Johnson ’02, who was named an All-American in 2001, hold virtually all rushing records at Bethel. Porta and Flannery are the top two rushers in MIAC history with 5,235 yards and 5,303 yards, respectively. In addition to his coaching duties, Swan is also the video coordinator for Bethel football.

He and his wife Kathy reside in Buffalo Grove, Ill., and have two grown children, Eric and Aimee (Walford), and five grandchildren.