Washington State University Athletics
Russ Swan Profile - The Washington State University Official Athletic Site
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Russ Swan brings a wealth of baseball experience to the Cougar diamond. The former major league pitcher with the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians spent 11 years in professional baseball before joining WSU last summer.
Swan is no stranger to the Pacific Northwest and Cougar baseball, having played prep baseball at Kennewick High and community college ball at CC of Spokane before a two-year stint at Texas A&M preceded his professional playing career.
The new Cougar coach spends much of his time in the bullpen working with the WSU pitchers. He also coordinates WSU’s baseball camp programs and Cougar clinics.
Swan, 34 (1-3-64), broke into professional baseball in 1986 when he was drafted by the Giants in the eighth round. He played for three years at the single A level before getting his big chance in 1989. Starting the year at San Francisco’s double-A team, he worked his way up to Phoenix (AAA), then late in the season was called up to the Giants.
In his debut, Swan pitched against Oral Hershiser of the Los Angeles Dodgers, losing a 5-3 decision. Later that season he moved from a starting role to the bullpen to make room for the return of Dave Dravecky. The following season he started the year with the Giants, then was traded to Seattle. His first assignment with Seattle was at Calgary, the Mariner’s triple-A team. Shortly thereafter he joined Seattle and made his first start a memorable one against Detroit. Swan carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Tigers and finished with eight innings of shutout ball in picking up the victory.
The Cougar coach spent the next three years, 1991-93, with Seattle as both a relief specialist out of the bullpen and as a starter. In 1994 Swan was traded to Cleveland, where he spent the first half of the year with the parent club before joining Charlotte (AAA). He spent the 1995 season with Oakland’s triple-A team Edmonton and in 1996 pitched for San Diego’s team in Las Vegas (AAA). His playing career then came to an end during spring training in 1997 when he was injured and finally released by the Chicago Cubs.
In his two years as the Cougars pitching coach Swan has tutored Wade Parrish, Jamaal Gaines, Ole Vigeland and Dave Wheeler who have all entered the ranks of professional baseball.
After graduating from Kennewick High in 1984, Swan was drafted in the second round twice, first by Houston in the January draft, then by Seattle in the spring draft. The Swan family includes wife Melissa, daughter Erin (13), and son Kelly (6).
