McPHERSON, KS -In the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, a man long dedicated to service is retiring. He has been cited as one of the strongest Kansas small college behind-the-scenes movers and shakers in getting out sports stories and statistics.

Carol R. Swenson the sports information director at McPherson College is stepping down after nine years of service, although he has agreed to continue assisting with college projects on a part-time basis.

Swenson also is retiring as the only chairperson of the KCAC institutional sports information directors committee, since it was established in 2004.

He came to McPherson College in the fall of 2000 as Director of Annual Giving and Sports Information, following 32 years in public school education.

"Carol has developed and established an outstanding program that supports and advances athletics for students, parents, coaches, and the institution of McPherson College.I have known Carol for 38 years both as a teacher and coach, and in the last eight years as Sports Information Director at the College," LaMonte Rothrock, athletic director and dean of students, said.

"His organization and attention to detail are unmatched.The institution has gone from one that kept no records to one that has in-depth records, statistics, and promotion documents which will serve the College historically.Carol also brings another gift to McPherson College, and that is his love of teaching," Rothrock added."He has taken numerous students under his tutelage to teach them the love for sports information and attention to details.He spends countless hours working above and beyond to help them succeed."

Swenson is a graduate of Alta Vista High School in Kansas.He is a 1968 graduate of Kansas State University with a BS in secondary education mathematics degree.He also holds a masters in education degree from Wichita State University, with concentration in physical education - sports administration.He also has other certifications from WSU.

After receiving his undergraduate degree Swenson taught two years at Washington (Kansas) High School, before joining the McPherson public schools faculty.There he spent 14 years teaching at McPherson Junior High, six years in the classroom at McPherson High School, and ten years as high school Activities Director - before he took early retirement in the summer of 2000.

Following his first two years at McPherson College, Interim President Neil Thorburn and Director of Development Bob Knechel said they felt that with the College's commitment to major renovation and improvement of its athletic facilities, the athletic department needed "full support" which included a full-time sports information director.

Swenson was tapped for that position.

Swenson says:"When I came into that position, I had a goal of providing accurate, up-to-date information, statistics, and other support regarding Bulldog athletics - not only to area news media, but also to local and distance fans, alumni, and parents. I believed long-term benefits would result in increased alumni and fan support.Over the years we have seen the institution's officially recognized Athletic Booster Club grow from 35 members, who donated $1,800 in 2000, to a high of 290 members and donations of over $20,000 per year - as well as having many former athletes reconnect with the school.A key in that growth process has been the work and support of Brian Lundberg, McPherson's website developer and a colleague in the Communications Office."

Swenson admits:"The first year or two in the SID position were pretty tough, as we tried to reflect on the positives in the athletic program, while the Bulldogs struggled to post many wins in most sports. But as programs have developed the job has become easier.During the development of our programs the coaches have kept the proper goals in mind, finding student athletes who could not only compete in the KCAC and the NAIA, but more importantly, they were here to walk eventually across the Brown Auditorium stage and to accept their diplomas."

Reflecting on the KCAC, Swenson adds:"It is reassuring to know the SIDs have the support of KCAC commissioner Scott Crawford when issues go before the Governing Council and the presidents of the conference. The creation in 2006 of the position of conference commissioner, and with the presidents and athletic directors giving that individual the freedom to lead, it has been a welcome breath of fresh air for our conference."

In thinking of media relations, he adds:"I can't forget our friends in the news media. We are very fortunate as a small collegiate conference, with ten Kansas educational institutions located mostly in small, rural-type communities, that we usually get consistent support from our local and area newspapers, radio and television stations."

"Steve Sell at the McPherson Sentinel and Bob Davidson at the Salina Journal are the ‘deans' of the KCAC's print media.Both are professional journalists with whom I've been privileged to know and work much longer than my time at McPherson College. Like many of their compatriots, they continue to do all they can to promote the KCAC and their area colleges - despite being pulled from all sides to cover more extensively the prep athletics, major college and professional sports, plus the growing arena of youth athletics, all of which want space and time for their committed readership and fans. Theirs is no small job; rather it's one in which they usually hear the negative comments more often than positive strokes.

Swenson continued, "I've been fortunate in working with a great group of coaches during my time here. No doubt, each has been a unique individual. Working at this level, their job is a juggling act. Each coach knows how he or she wants to do things, and sometimes we have to compromise in order for both of us to get what we need in getting our respective jobs done. In the end, I believe each has felt their sport was treated the same as any other, and most importantly, in a professional manner."

"Student athletes haven't always been sure upon arrival on campus just who the ‘old man' was, who was hanging around the games - and why he asks some of the questions he does. Eventually, they always seem to accept me as part of the team. Just like in the junior high or high school classroom, or the high school office, one of the best parts of my job has been watching their development as individuals and athletes - seeing what they can accomplish.I know I feel a kind of parental ‘Yes!' as they walk across the stage at graduation."

When asked about personal highlights over the past nine years Swenson lists, in part:

- Having my first student assistant, Chet Buchman, named as one of four NAIA Sears Directors' Cup Postgraduate Scholarship award winners in 2002. Chet then went on to earn his Masters degree at Kansas State University, and has returned to McPherson where he is a CPA. Chet also worked for me as a student SID during our days together at McPherson High School.

- Seeing four-year assistant Alan Grosbach decide that he wanted to pursue a career in sports information/administration after graduating from McPherson College with a degree in Ag Science. Alan now is stepping into my SID position at McPherson College.

"I've been fortunate to have had a series of great student assistants; young men and women who have taken their responsibilities seriously and performed diligently under many varied conditions, some of which were better than others.

Swenson says, "With the support of the administration of McPherson College, I've had freedom and time away from the office to work with the KSHSAA in its media relation efforts - including working state basketball and wrestling tournaments, and the continuation of over 30 years of announcing at the state track & field meet."

Swenson has also served as a Regional Team Manager for the first four editions of the NIKE Team Nationals, a national cross country championship meet for high school athletes held annually in Portland, Oregon, and as an announcer for the 2006 Nike Combined Challenge and 2008 Thorpe Cup, international heptathlon/decathlon dual meets between teams of elite athletes from the USA and Germany.

In remembering the network of KCAC SIDs, Swenson says: "I have been fortunate to work with a great group of fellow sports information directors in the KCAC and NAIA.For many years, A. John Pearson has been the sports information director the KCAC, and I was pleased to see him recognized in 2007 with the national NAIA's Ike Pearson Award for sports information. He has served as a mentor to me and many others who work in the area of public relations and sports information."

"They don't come much better than the current group of SIDs in the conference. There is no doubt who they are rooting for, but their professionalism in helping each other do their job, sharing information, work space, phone lines, etc. has continued to grow over the years. Their support and the support of their respective athletic directors have been appreciated. It is nice to know you can send an email, or pick up the phone, bounce an idea, express a frustration, or just unload, and they can do the same!"

As he remembers his span of years in McPherson in secondary school and college work, Swenson adds: "Over the years at McPherson High as well as at McPherson College, I have been fortunate to get to know and to work with many of the state's best radio and television personalities. Locally and in the conference, it seems we have gone through quite a few over the years - and I don't want to discount the work of any of them. Each has brought his own unique style!"

Swenson admits: "When I was finishing up my Masters at Wichita State back in 1981, my dream was to be a sports information director at a major college. But either I didn't interview very well or the good Lord apparently had other plans for me! It has been kind of a round-about trip, but the wait was worth it!Sure, the atmosphere of Division I athletics is alluring, but in the end I don't believe I would have been completely happy tied to one or two sports. I grew up in a little rural community, going to a high school with 72 students where everyone was involved in everything, athletics, music, yearbook, and more. We had one sport each season, football, basketball, and track, with baseball in the summer. I am glad I had the opportunity then to do everything, and today it is no different."

Swenson was asked "What is your favorite sport," and he replied: "Whatever is in season; but remember, track and cross country go all year around."

Swenson and his wife Donna have two married daughters. As a grandparent of one grandson, Brendan, in Texas and two grandsons, Samuel and Ephrahim, and a granddaughter, Emma, in Florida, Swenson says he needs to spend more time with them - and that he intends to do in the months ahead.

"I'm looking forward to Donna and I having more time to travel and being able to spend more time with Ryan and Mark (Chambers) in Texas and Erin and Nathan (Swenson-Reinhold) in Florida and all of the grandkids. The grandkids are getting to the ages (nine years to five months) where they are getting involved in more things and we'd like to be more a part of those times."

Carol R. Swenson is retiring and is looking forward to traveling, but you can still expect him to be around for many of the McPherson College and Kansas Conference athletic events.