Southeast Soccer Club mourns the passing of club co-founder Warren Swanson. Along with Milan Keser, Warren built a foundation for young people in Southeastern CT, who loved the beautiful game, to grow their skills.
Warren earned his bachelor's degree from Springfield College in 1958 before earning his master's degree form the University of Connecticut in 1961 and his Ph.D. in 1974. Swanson enrolled in Irv Schmid’s soccer coaching course in 1957 while at Springfield College and joined United Soccer Coaches as a student member for $5, beginning a 60-plus year affiliation with the association.
Warren’s coaching accomplishments include:
● Founding the National Junior College Soccer Coaches Association and served as President in the 1960s. Among his players who later contributed to soccer was Hank Steinbrecher, former Secretary General of U.S. Soccer.
● Chairman of the United Soccer Coaches NJCAA All-America Committee from 1963-68,
● A member of the Executive Committee from 1967-73.
● The youngest president and only junior college coach to serve in that capacity in association history, when he served in 1972 at the age of 36. During his tenure as President, Swanson and his wife, Karen, reconciled the association’s record-keeping and membership lists. He led an initiative to conduct the annual Convention in St. Louis in 1972, the first time it was ever held outside of New York City. That year’s Convention attracted the largest attendance in the association’s history.
● His tenure also included the first recognition of United Soccer Coaches Secondary Schools All-America Teams and he convened a joint meeting of United Soccer Coaches, IFSA, NISOA and USSFA with the objective of “working to enhance the development of the U.S. game.”
● Founder of the Connecticut Soccer Coaches Association in 1972.
● He led Mitchell College (New London,CT) to four straight NJCAA national championship finals, winning two championships and compiling a 99-32-4 (.748) record during his 12 years as the head coach during the late 1950s and 60s.
● Following his tenure at Mitchell College, he led St. Bernard’s High School (Montville, CT) for six years and gave the school its first winning season.
● He also coached at both Ledyard and Waterford High Schools.
● From 1979-91 he served as First Vice-President of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA). He coached teams in CJSA for 16 years and never had a losing season. Among his CJSA assistant coaches were U.S. Soccer’s Sunil Gulati and Tony DiCicco.
● Founded the New London Soccer Club
● Founded the Waterford Soccer Club
● Warren was awarded a Letter of Commendation by United Soccer Coaches in 1974.
● Inducted into the NJCAA Soccer Hall of Fame in 1992.
● Inducted into the Mitchell College Hall of Fame in 1991
● Inducted into the CJSA Hall of Fame in 2000.
● CJSA Life Member.
● Inducted into the Southeast Connecticut Junior Soccer Association Hall of Fame in 2005.
● Inducted into the Town of Waterford Athletic Hall of Fame, 2010.
● Most recently, Swanson was honored by United Soccer Coaches as their 2018 Honor Award recipient in recognition of a distinguished career, tremendous service to the association and exemplary contributions to the coaching profession and beyond.
After leaving Mitchell College in 1975, Swanson joined the Federal Government where his administrative career centered on overseeing the evaluation of instruction and testing related to the Navy’s submarine corps.
Upon leaving the Federal position in 1993, he joined General Dynamics in Groton, where he served for 10 years as Director of Curriculum Development for the Carter Class of submarines.
Warren was predeceased by his wife, Karen, and daughter Lori. He is survived by his two sons Gregg, Gary (Peg), daughter Lynn (Mike) and eight grandchildren, Eric, Jake, Hannah, Carly, Krista, Joseph, Michael, Daniel.
LEARN MORE ABOUT WARREN SWANSON’S OUTSTANDING CAREER