By Isaac Cox, March 11, 2025
The director of intercollegiate athletics, Brian Swanson, for Cal Poly Pomona, surpassed 2,000 wins in 20 years under his position of leadership, boasting a winning record of 1,901-1,345 (.583) since 2005.
In recent history, CPP women’s soccer team won its first Division II championship in 2024, while volleyball became the California Collegiate Athletic Association champions and made its 20th NCAA appearance that same year.
During Swanson’s tenure, men’s basketball also made it to the NCAA Tournament 11 times and became NCAA D II champs in 2009. The women’s basketball team won five championships, and the baseball team has been champs three times.
Men’s soccer and women’s cross-country have a total of 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, while men’s and women’s track and field have won 18 championships in total, including one national title from the men’s cross-country team.
Swanson said he was shocked when he saw the results of the total wins the Broncos have earned since he has been with the program, but he also mentioned it wasn’t just him who accomplished 2,000 wins. Rather, it was a team effort.
Swanson said it took everyone working together, resulting in him counting his blessings.
Before Swanson became one of CPP’s athletic directors, he graduated as a first-generation college student, earning his degree in finance at Northeast Missouri State University. He also worked for a brokerage firm for three years.
Swanson explained how going to college was a big accomplishment, especially being a first-gen student. Following that, he said another accomplishment was making a complete 360, leaving one career for another. He couldn’t do any of this with the help of his wife and daughter, which he mentioned was a blessing to have joy when it comes to having a family as well.
When Swanson was working in the brokerage firm, he met people who worked in the sports industry professionally and realized that was exactly where he belonged since he loves sports and enjoys business.
Swanson left the brokerage firm to get his master’s degree in sports administration at Western Illinois University and then gained an internship at Cal State Northridge. He was hired shortly after, working there for seven years before getting a chance to work at Cal State L.A. for six years. Swanson enjoyed his time being there since he had great mentors to help him with his career, taking the time to help get him to where he is today.
Swanson said one of the best parts of being the athletic director for the Broncos was watching the women’s soccer team win the championship last season. Swanson also enjoys seeing past CPP student-athletes come back on alumni game nights, now with great careers and their own families.
Alex Kline, the assistant athletic director for communications who also graduated from CPP and played on the baseball team, explained what it’s like having Swanson as the athletic director and also what he has learned about him over time working with him.
“He’s very good at his job,” Kline said. “That’s really no surprise with this type of accomplishment in reaching the 2000-win mark and doing it over 20 years. To have that level of sustained success, he has a really good understanding of the department and an understanding of everyone’s strengths and roles, and I think that is something that helps the department thrive.”
Kline also said he and the department kept Swanson’s 2000-win mark a secret and once they showed him the result on the big screen, it was an emotional moment as Swanson smiled and shook his head in awe.
According to Kline, the department wanted to celebrate Swanson specifically because he doesn’t often get recognized for the work he does on and off the court or field.
Men’s basketball head coach Greg Kamansky has worked with Swanson since the start of his career as CPP’s athletic director and described Swanson as an organized administrator who really cares about the people he works with.
“It shows how consistent he’s been,” Kamansky said. “He really pulls for every team that we have, and he’s hired some really good coaches. … I was already here when he came here, but he always treated me like one of his.”
Swanson said he plans to continue making sure the programs stay front and center on a national basis since each program has been successful academically and athletically — the average GPA at CPP is 3.69, and each sport has had present and historical success.
Feature image courtesy of CPP Athletics
