Lebanon Valley College Athletics

After 11 seasons as head coach of the men's squad and nine with the women's team, Mike Swisher moved into an assistant coach role in fall 2021.

In the 2018 fall season, Swisher picked and the men's team picked up where they left off the previous year. Out of eight invites in the fall, the Dutchmen finished third or better in five events. Then, in the spring season, LVC finished runner-up for the second consecutive year at the 2019 MAC Championship. 

Swisher found more success in the 2017 fall season and 2018 spring season. On the men's side in the fall, Swisher led the Dutchmen to four top-5 performances out of six tournaments. He guided David Herbst to three MAC Commonwealth Golfer of the Week awards, and the junior finished in the top-5 in five out of six tournaments. In the spring, LVC placed second or better in four of its five events, won their annual Dutchmen Spring Invite, and followed it up with three consecutive second-place finishes. LVC also earned the eighth spot in the Mid-Atlantic region, the first time the Dutchmen have been regionally ranked under Swisher. 

On the women's side, Swisher guided Kaitlyn Kennedy to yet another top-10 finish at the MAC Championship. Kennedy was named All-MAC Second Team after finishing sixth at the tournament.

In the 2016-17 season, Swisher led both the men's and women's teams to a successful season. On the men's side in the fall, the Dutchmen posted their lowest team score since 2004 at the Messiah Falcon Classic (309) and out of seven fall tournaments, LVC finished in the top-5 six times, including wins at the Gettysburg Fall Invite and the LVC Dutchmen Invite. In the spring, the men's squad placed third at MAC Championships and won the LVC Dutchmen Spring Invite in April. At the MAC Championships, David Herbst finished tied for second, earning a spot on the All-Conference First Team. Two women were named to the All-MAC Team in the spring, as Megan Kimmel earned Second-Team honors and Kaitlyn Kennedy received Honorable Mention. 

After a successful 2014 season for LVC golf, the 2015 season accomplishments continued with Megan Kimmel earning MAC Player of the Year after winning the 2016 MAC Individual title Championship. The sophomore is the first Dutchmen to win the individual accolade. Joining Kimmel with MAC recognitions, the women’s team placed third overall in the MAC Championship tournament. On the men’s side, the team finished second in the tournament, with freshman David Herbst and junior Aaron Brown being named Second Team All-Conference.

The 2014 season was one to remember for LVC women's golf as freshman Megan Kimmel was named the MAC Rookie of the Year, setting new program records as she forced a playoff for the MAC individual championship. Under Swisher, the 2012-13 season was one to remember for LVC golf. Freshman Jonathan Bensing was named the Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year as a young and upcoming men's team placed fifth at the Commonwealth Conference Championships, while Mary Gardner and Katie Wagner were named all-MAC to lead the women's team to a memorable second-place finish at their first-ever MAC Championships.

A noted instructor in the Lebanon area, he is member of the Central Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Swisher served as the head pro at LVC's home course, Lebanon Country Club, from 1969 until his retirement in October 2010. He has been a member of the Professional Golfers Association of America since 1966.

As an award-winning instructor, Swisher has worked with top professionals including 2010 PGA Tour Player of the Year and US Open and FedEx Cup champion Jim Furyk, PGA Tour members Stu Ingraham and Greg Lesher, state amateur champion and Nationwide Tour member Blaine Peffley, LPGA Futures Tour member Stephanie George, and 2009 Women's U.S. Amateur runner-up Jennifer Johnson.

Swisher is a recipient of the Harrisburg District Golf Association's Life Time Award, and has been twice recognized by Golf Digest as one of Pennsylvania's top three instructors. He is also a founding member of the Lebanon County Junior Golf Program, which continues to be successful today.

As a player, Swisher is a past champion of the Central Counties PGA, the 1990 Central Penn Open, and multiple local Pro-Ams, and qualified and played in the Philadelphia Golf Classic.