Hall of Fame
Harland "Swede" Svare has had an outstanding career in football as a standout collegiate athlete at Washington State, a defensive star in the pros for Los Angeles and Washington, and as a coach and general manager for the LA Rams and the San Diego Chargers. A three-sport standout at North Kitsap High School in Poulsbo, Svare was outstanding offensively and defensively for the Cougars in the 1950-52 era and in one season - 1952 - caught two of the longest passes in WSU history, 84 yards versus Idaho and 76 yards against California. Following his senior season he was selected to participate in the East-West Shrine Game. A 17th-round selection of the Los Angeles Rams in the 1953 draft, he spent eight seasons in professional football, two with the Rams and six with the New York Giants. He was a member of the Giants team that won the National Football League title in 1956 and also played on the Giants teams that won Eastern Division titles in 1958 and 1959. He was only 31 when he became head coach of the Rams in 1962, a position he held through the 1965 season. He also coached the Chargers (1972-73) while also serving as the team’s general manager (1971-75).
