Pacific Lutheran University Athletics

A three-time NWC Coach of the Year, Kris Swanson enters his 10th season as head coach of the PLU men's golf program in 2019-2020 and has turned the Lutes into national contender, guiding PLU to three trips to the NCAA Division III Championships, including the program's best ever finish in 2018. 

In 10 seasons at the helm, PLU has captured three NWC Championships (2014, 2017, 2018), 19 tournament victories, nine First Team All-Conference players, two NWC Player of the Year honorees (Dustin Hegge and Mitchell Baldridge), one NWC Freshman of the Year winner (Austin Darnell) while securing NWC Coach of the Year honors in 2014, 2017, and 2018. 

Boasting arguably the best freshman class in the nation, the Lutes won four tournaments during the 2017-2018 season, including the NWC Spring Classic and the NWC Tournament to win the conference crown for the second consecutive season. The Lutes saved their best golf for last, finishing 14th at the NCAA Championships for the best finish in program history. 

The Lutes had a breakout 2017 campaign, winning both the NWC Fall and Spring Classics and hoisting the NWC title in the spring. Pacific Lutheran capped the season by finishing 18th at the NCAA Championships, which at the time was the best finish in program history.

Swanson was named PLU head men's coach prior to the 2009-2010 season after serving as the head coach at Division II Saint Martin's University during the 2007-2008 academic year. Prior to becoming the head coach, he served as an assistant, helping the Saints to their second ever appearance at the NCAA Division II Championships.

As a student-athlete at SMU, Swanson enjoyed a fine career, serving as team captain of the Saints for two years. He helped the Saints make their first ever appearance at the NCAA Division II Championships in school history in 2005 and was voted into the SMU Athletics Hall of Fame with several of his teammates in 2015. 

Swanson received a degree in psychology from SMU in 2005. He has been an assistant golf professional at Tumwater Valley Golf Course and Olympia Country Club and currently owns Performance Golf LLC out of Olympia where he instructs golf at Capitol City Golf Course.

Swanson, his wife Toni and their son Decker live in Olympia.

NWC Men's Golf Standings