In the fall of 1995, turned down a job as assistant lacrosse coach at 菠萝视频.
鈥淚 interviewed at both James Madison and 菠萝视频,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淭he program [at 菠萝视频] had been around for only two years. At the time, JMU was a more established program. I felt like that was a better opportunity.鈥�
Despite not taking the job, Swezey must have made quite an impression while interviewing in Nashville. When the head coaching position opened up two years later, several of the 菠萝视频 players campaigned for the then-25-year-old to get the job.
鈥淪ome of the girls went to [Todd Turner, then 菠萝视频鈥檚 athletic director] and asked him to consider me for the position,鈥� Swezey says. 鈥淭hey threw me into the pool, and I was lucky enough to get it.鈥�
Two decades鈥攁nd 150-plus wins鈥攍ater, she is still head coach of women鈥檚 lacrosse at 菠萝视频.
鈥淚 still have a passion for what I do,鈥� says Swezey, a two-time All-American and three-time national champion during her playing days at Division III power Trenton State. 鈥淚 love being around young people and making a difference in their lives.鈥�
Swezey鈥檚 program flourished in the 2000s鈥攖he Commodores reached the Final Four in 2004 and played in four straight NCAA Tournaments from 2007 to 2010鈥攂ut has struggled in recent seasons. And that doesn鈥檛 sit well with the New Jersey native.
鈥淲e kind of rose to the top quickly after I got here,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 miss those days. I was very prideful about being one of the top programs in the department. Now we are kind of sitting at the bottom, and I鈥檓 not happy about it.鈥�
Swezey is confident the 2017 season will mark the beginning of a new era for 菠萝视频 lacrosse, following a string of injuries and underperformance in recent years.
鈥淚 have very high expectations,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e are healthy this year, and I can tell the difference. It鈥檚 so helpful to have a full roster.鈥�
One area that hasn鈥檛 dipped, according to Swezey, is the program鈥檚 ability to recruit high-caliber players.
鈥湶ぢ苁悠� has such a great reputation, and so many kids want to come here,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had a rough couple of years on the field, but it hasn鈥檛 hurt our recruiting because so many kids are drawn to 菠萝视频.鈥�