The 11th head coach in Gamecock Volleyball history, Scott Swanson looks to build upon a season where he helped South Carolina double its win total in his first year.

The Gamecocks went 14-16 in Swanson's first year and improved its offensive efficiency and its backline defense under his guidance. The team led the SEC with a 16.78 digs average, the best mark in four years for the Gamecocks, and hit .226, a 45-point improvement from the 2011 season. Three times, South Carolina student-athletes garnered an SEC weekly award, with Juliette Thévenin picking up the first offensive listing and Paige Wheeler twice gaining the defensive certificate.

Swanson's teams also proved themselves in the classroom, earning the program's second Team Academic Award from the American Volleyball Coaches Association in 2011-12. Thirteen Gamecocks were listed on the SEC Academic Honor Rolls for the year as well, and the team claimed the department's Life Skills Team of the Year award, honoring the group for its academic achievements, personal development and work in the community.

Prior to his current head coaching job, Swanson spent five years on the sidelines for the Golden Gophers, helping the team to five-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and a 125-46 record. Three times, Minnesota finished second in the Big Ten behind perennial power Penn State. The 2009 team advanced to the national semifinals in the NCAA Tournament.

During his tenure in Minneapolis, Swanson helped the Golden Gophers become an elite blocking team. In five years, Minnesota never ranked lower than 35th in NCAA Division I in blocks. The 2007 team set a program record with 3.54 blocks per set. Five Golden Gophers earned All-America accolades during those five years, including 2009 first-team middle blocker and 2012 US National Team pool member Lauren Gibbemeyer.

Swanson also led the Gophers' recruiting efforts, posting three top-10 recruiting classes according to PrepVolleyball.com. The 2009 group earned top honors from the outlet.

The summer of 2009, Swanson spent time with USA Volleyball's A-2 Junior National Team, and he coached the USA Red team to a second-place showing in the 2008 USA Adult Open Championships.

Swanson brings in four years of head coaching experience to Columbia after his tenure at the University of Texas-El Paso. With a 50-61 career record, Swanson had the team on the brink of the NCAA Tournament in 2005, when the Miners went 21-10. Three player earned all-conference honors under Swanson's tutelage, including honorable mention All-American Kari Stacy. He also inked a high school All-American and saw his team improve in the classroom to a department-best 3.2 GPA in 2005.

Prior to UTEP, Swanson spent six years at his alma mater, Arizona State. He helped the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances during his time in Tempe and coached one second-team All-American and two Pac-10 All-Freshman Team players. Two of his Sun Devil players garnered Academic All-America certificates as well.

Swanson started his coaching career at Mountain View (Ariz.) High School, working as an assistant with the varsity team and leading his junior varsity group to a 17-1 record. As a head coach with the Arizona East Valley Juniors club, he led a 16-1s team to a national runner-up finish and earned Cactus Region Coach of the Year honors. He also served as head coach at Camelback High School before landing the job with Arizona State, where he also played club volleyball.

A graduate of ASU, Swanson is married to the former Erin Meier. The couple has one daughter, Rylee Sue.

Swanson's Employment Timeline
2011-present - Head coach, South Carolina
2006-2010 - Assistant coach, associate head coach, Minnesota
2009 - Assistant coach, USA Volleyball A-2 Women's Team
2002-2005 - Head coach, UTEP
1996-2001 - Assistant coach, associate head coach, Arizona State
1994-1995 - Head coach, Camelback High School
1993-2000 - Head coach, Arizona East Valley Juniors
1991-1992 - Assistant coach, Mountain View High School

Swanson's Education Timeline
1995, B.A., Family studies and human development, Arizona State