Kean University

Chris Swenson returns to the pool deck for his eighth season in 2025-26. 

Coach Swenson Highlights

NJAC Championships: 2022-23

NJAC Coach of the Year: 2022-23

216 School Records Broken

Two NCAA Championship Qualifier

Three All-American Selections

50 All-NJAC Selections

One Swimmer of the Year Selection

Two NJAC Rookie of the Year Selection

11 CSC All-District Selections

Swenson guided the Cougars to a 13-1-1 record and established 43 school records. Kean had 12 All-NJAC selections, including Braelyn Wilson being named the NJAC Rookie of the Year. Wilson qualified for the NCAA Championships and came back with two All-American selections and one podium finish, placing sixth in the 100 Back.  

Swenson guided the Cougars to an 8-2 overall record and established 12 school records. Kean four All-NJAC, including Emma Bellars earning a first team selection in the 100 Free. Kean finished fifth at the first-ever NJAC Championships (797 Pts.). 

The Cougars made a big splash in 2022-23 as they went undefeated in the regular season (11-0), ran the table in the NJAC (5-0) for their first Championship and had their first NCAA Championship Qualifier (Naomee Miller). Swenson was named the NJAC Coach of the Year and Miller was tabbed the NJAC Swimmer as the Cougars boasted 17 All-NJAC selections. Miller was named the first All-American in program history. 

Swenson guided the Cougars to a 6-6 overall record and established 17 school records during a first full season back from the pandemic in 2021-22. Kean had four All-NJAC selections, including Teagan Powell earning a first team selection in the 200 Breast Event. 

The Cougars continued a upward trajectory under Swenson during the 2020-21 season. Kean finished with a 1-2 overall record and established 27 school records during an abbreviated season. The Cougars tallied 13 All-NJAC selections, including freshman Brianna Shaw being named NJAC Rookie of the Year.

The Cougars continued to improve under Swenson's guidance during the 2019-20 season. Kean finished with an 8-7 overall record and established 47 school records in the process. The Cougars ended their season with a 6th place finish and 427.5 points at the METS Championships, which is 251.5 points more than their 14th place finish last season. 

Swenson joined Kean at the start of the 2018-19 season following stints at Princeton University, The University of Notre Dame, Saint Peter’s University and Rowan University. In his first year as head coach, the team saw many accomplishments, including setting 19 school records, more than doubling their point total at the Metropolitan Conference Championship, and moving up two spots in the final conference standings from the previous year. Also under his direction, Freshman Tori Hayes earned the first NJAC Rookie Swimmer of the Week honors in program history.

Prior to Kean, Swenson was the volunteer assistant coach for the men’s team at Princeton for two seasons, working directly with the sprint, stroke and IM groups. His efforts helped Princeton secure a 2^nd place finish at the 2018 Men’s Ivy League Swimming Championship, where they set a school record in the 800 free relay and had the Ivy League champion in the 200 fly. During his time, the Tigers had five selections to the All-Ivy second team.

While at Notre Dame, Swenson was the Director of Operations for Men's Swimming and Diving. The Fighting Irish landed the 9^th ranked recruiting class in the country, earned 3 Honorable Mention All-Americans and a fifth-place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He managed all logistics and helped organize the Notre Dame Swimming Camp for over 200 athletes.

From 2012-2014, Swenson served as Acting Head Coach and assistant coach with Saint Peter's University in Jersey City, N.J. The Peacocks set 64 school records, scored the school’s second highest team finish at the MAAC Championships and coached three MAAC Swimmers of the Year. Two of these athletes went on to place top 16 in the men’s 200 fly and women’s 200 backstroke at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Swenson was the graduate assistant swimming coach at Rowan University from 2006 to 2008. He primarily worked with the stroke and IM groups and coached a Division III Honorable Mention All-American in the Men’s 200 Breaststroke.

A 2005 graduate of Rowan University, Swenson earned a B.S. in Management and competed for the men's swim team. During his time in the pool, he earned 3 NCAA ‘B’ Cuts in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, both team MVP and Rookie of the Year honors, and was awarded the Walter J. Holt Leadership Award. He was elected team captain during the 2004-05 season. He went on to earn his MBA from Rowan in 2008. 

*- Season Shortened due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Updated 6-24-25