More than twenty years ago, it was not uncommon for student-athletes to play three (or more) different intercollegiate sports, but in today's specialization climate, it is indeed a rare feat. That makes the Ripon College career of Billy Swartz '99 so unique. A four-time All-Conference men's soccer player and the all-time leading goal scorer in Ripon history, Swartz also scored 264 points during his career as a sprinter and conference-medalist in the long jump for the Red Hawks' Track & Field team, while contributing to some of Coach Bob Gillespie's most successful men's basketball teams ever. Swartz, who was named Ripon's Male Athlete of the Year as a junior, was inducted into Ripon's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.
"Billy might be the most versatile and all-around talented student-athlete during the past four decades of Ripon College athletics," former Ripon Track & Field coach Bob Duley said. "He truly was a throwback athlete that would have fit in during any decade."
Although he contributed in all three sports, it was on the soccer field where Swartz excelled the most, first as a player and later as the team's head coach. During his playing career, Swartz scored 46 goals, which still stands as a school record and is 15 more than the second-highest total. He earned Second Team All-Conference honors as a freshman, before landing on the First Team in each of his final three years. In his last two seasons, Swartz led the Red Hawks to the first two MWC Championships in program history.
"Probably my favorite memory from my playing days at Ripon is scoring the "golden goal" in the second overtime period of the 1998 MWC Tournament to win 1-0 and earn the school's first-ever Men's Soccer Conference Championship."
A double major in Physical Education and Educational Studies with a minor in Health, Swartz was named Head Coach of Ripon's men's soccer program shortly after his graduation. The team promptly won the next two conference championships in Swartz's first (and only) two years at the helm to complete a four-peat. Swartz led the team to a 28-10 overall record during his time as Head Coach, which included a spectacular 17-1 record in conference games. After going undefeated (9-0) in the conference play during the 2000 season, Swartz was named MWC Coach of the Year. He led the team to its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament that season, which still marks the only two-such appearances in program history.
"One of the best decisions of my life was when I decided to attend Ripon College, and it turned out to be more than I ever thought it would be," Swartz said. "I was able to double major with a minor and play three sports, while becoming best friends with many of my teammates who I still see regularly, and also met my wife of 18 years. The education and individual attention at Ripon was outstanding and the success we had in athletics was priceless. The friendships will last a lifetime and my family has tremendous love and pride for Ripon College."
Defined just as much by winning as by his individual accolades, Swartz also was a part of two MWC Championship men's basketball teams, accomplishing that feat in 1998 and 1999. Both of those teams also advanced to the NCAA Tournament and are the two winningest teams in program history. In 54 career games, Swartz shot 30 percent from 3-point range and 67 percent from the free throw line.
"I have so many fond memories of winning multiple conference championships in both soccer and basketball and playing in the NCAA Tournament in both sports, while also having success at the conference level in track," said Swartz.
A native of Waukesha, Wis., Swartz went on to become Head Boys Basketball Coach at Waukesha South High School from 2004-13, where he led his team to a Classic Eight Conference championship in 2006. The team finished 18-4 that season, winning a regional championship as Swartz was named Waukesha County Coach of the Year. He then served as an assistant men's basketball coach for six years at former MWC school Carroll University under Head Coach and Ripon College alum Paul Combs '93, who also played for Coach Gillespie.
"Coach Gillespie and Coach Duley were two of my biggest influences at Ripon College," Swartz said. "They both pushed me in many ways to be successful not only in sports and school, but also in life."
Swartz currently works as a Physical Education and Health Teacher at Waukesha South where he also is serving his second stint as the Blackshirts' Head Boys Soccer Coach, winning a Classic Eight championship in 2005 during his first stint with the program. He and his wife Emmylou (Litschke) '97 currently reside in Wauwatosa, Wis. with their two children, Morgan and Summerlyn.
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