Sep 29, 2019

Mike Swider earns his milestone 200th career victory

Rusty Lindsey

9/29/2019 6:30:00 AM

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In Saturday's 62-0 Thunder victory at Millikin University, head football coach Mike Swider earned his 200th career win as Wheaton's head coach. The Thunder mentor is in his 24th season as Wheaton's head coach, and 35th on the Wheaton coaching staff. He has a career record of 200-51-0 for a winning percentage of 79.6% as head coach.

I don't look at it as my 200th victory, I think of it as the 200th victory for Wheaton Football while I've been the head coach. I haven't won anything. I've just been the guardian while the program has won 200 games.

Mike Swider

Coach Swider is ranked eighth among all active NCAA Division III Coaches in victories in his 24 seasons. He is one of only three coaches on the active top-10 list that have coached in 25 or fewer seasons and his average of 8.3 victories per season is third among the coaches on the list.

Swider's 200 career wins is 15th among all active NCAA football coaches at any level. His career average of 8.3 wins per season is seventh among the coaches ranked on the top-20 of this list.

His first win came in the opening game of the 1996 season, a 37-21 victory against Kalamazoo College at McCully Stadium. Swider's 50th win at Wheaton was a 35-24 victory at home against Alma to open the 2003 season on September 13, 2003. The 100th win of his career was a 56-28 victory at McCully Stadium against North Park on October 4, 2008. He became Wheaton's winningest head football coach on November 22, 2008 in a 14-0 victory at Trine University in the opening round of the 2008 NCAA Division III Playoffs. The victory at Trine was the 105th of his career as he surpassed the 104 career victories earned by Harve Chrouser. Swider's 150th career win was a 26-12 victory at Kalamazoo College. Editor's Note: Use the arrow on the graphic below to go through Coach Swider's victories by opponent through the years.