Hillsboro, Kan. -Tabor College Vice President of Athletics Rusty Allen announced that Daniel Swaney has been named the new head men's and women's cross country coach for the Bluejays.

"We are very excited to have Dan Swaney join us in the athletic department," said Allen. "Coach Swaney brings extensive experience as a distance runner and a college cross country and track coach. He has proven ability as a recruiter.

"Most importantly, Coach Swaney embraces the mission and vision of the Tabor athletic department. He understands the importance of student-athletes earning a degree and is eager to share with his team what Christ means in his life."

Swaney, a former Academic All-American Cross Country runner earned both his Bachelor of Arts degree in history (1996) and Master of Arts in Education Counseling while attending the University of Redlands (Redlands, Calif.).

After college Swaney has served as a head men's and women's cross country and track and field coach in both the high school and college ranks as well as a personal trainer.

Swaney most recently served as an assistant men's and women's cross country and track and field coach at Santiago Canyon College (Orange, Calif.). While at Santiago Canyon College, Swaney led workouts for distance runners, sprinters, hurdlers, and horizontal jumpers. He helped lead track athletes, and both the men's and women's cross country teams to the SoCal Regionals.

"I'm very excited to be joining the Tabor community as the new Head Cross Country Coach," said Swaney. "I'm looking forward to getting to know the athletes and growing the team into conference contenders.

"I loved competing as a student-athlete and feel that coaching is the next best thing to being out there myself," added Swaney. "There is no greater thrill as a coach than to see your athletes perform better than they ever have before and that's what keeps me excited.

"I am passionate about running and being the best coach I can be. I still run and even race occasionally, so I know what it's like to make the commitment to training properly and how tough it can be. I also know the satisfaction of achieving a hard-earned goal, having set personal records in the 5k, steeplechase, and marathon in the last five years."

Swaney is married to his wife Kimberly and they have one-year old son, Wilson.

The cross country position at the college came open after Karol Hunt retired from coaching after 16 years at the helm at both the Tabor College Men's and Women's Cross Country Teams.

"I am grateful to Tabor for giving me the opportunity to coach cross country these last 16 years," said Hunt. "There is never a good time to end a coaching career because of the athletes and the relationships , but the time commitment required to have a quality program now is much greater than my early days at Tabor.

"Because of the limitation in time and energy, I have chosen to focus on my academic and athletic administration responsibilities. I still want to be an influence at Tabor, but it will be in a little different role."

Allen said "Coach Hunt's work as Tabor's cross country coach has been greatly appreciated.

"She fielded competitive teams and gave the kind of leadership that truly integrated the Christian faith into daily activity," Allen said. "She influenced many student-athletes in positive ways. We will miss her leadership on the cross country team."