The Swartz Era 1961–1968
Jack Swartz had caught touchdown passes for Chrouser in each of his four years as a player. He opened his head-coaching career in 1961 by going 8–0 and finishing seventh in the country in the NCAA's small-college poll — the last undefeated team Wheaton has fielded. The seven seasons after it never matched it, but six of the eight were winning ones.
The 1961 defense is the reason that season survives in the record: one rushing touchdown allowed all year and none over the final seven games, three shutouts, opponents held to 145 yards of total offense a game, and a scoring margin of 217–37. Wheaton beat North Central 20–7 for the Little Brass Bell and Northern Illinois 7–2 in a downpour on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Dave Iha to Kent Hutcheson inside the last two minutes. Iha, an All-American, was the team MVP and co-captain with guard George Kraft. Swartz was named District 5 Coach of the Year. He later served as Wheaton's athletic director from 1975 to 1983.
Head Coaches
1 coach across 8 seasons| Coach | Years | Seasons | Record | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Swartz | 1961–1968 | 8 | 41-30 | .577 |
Season by Season
1961–1968Turning Points
- 19618–0, ranked No. 7 in the NCAA small-college poll. One rushing touchdown allowed all season.
- 19638–1, the second-best record of the era.
- 19651–8, the low point, and the only losing stretch of Swartz’s tenure.
- 19677–2 in the era’s last winning year of consequence.