More About Stephen Swanger

Stephen Swanger was raised traveling the world as the son of a military officer and was afforded opportunities to play all over the US. Stephen played 1 year at college before testing his luck in Chile where he was discovered playing at a local park and was introduced to Jorge Garces who was the new coach of 2nd division Provinicial Osorno. Garces assisted Stephen gain a contract and was with the Toros as they made the Finals of Copa Chile and were promoted to the 1st division. Stephen later landed at La Union Española where he trained under Nelson Acosta and alongside MLS legend Jorge Dely Valdez of Panama.

After the departure of Acosta, Stephen trained at Talca Rangers, played with Santiago Morning, and then finally after a brief stint and a stomach illness, he made a departure from Chile. Stephen was a trialist at Melgar of Arequipa, Peru, Bolivar of La Paz, Bolivia, and then landed in Cochabamba, Bolovia to train under the guidance of Chi Chi Romero and Dimitrio Angola of the Bolivian national team. The league went on strike in 1992 and Stephen moved to Colorado to work until things were sorted out with league. However, while working contruction Stephen had an accident and broke mulitple ribs, knee cap, cuncussion, and severely broke his arm, leaving it permanantly disabled.

Stephen was then accepted into the University of Colorado where he graduated with a degree in Spanish Literature. After graduation at the age of 27, Stephen joined the US Army, studied at the Defense Language Institute, and served as a Russian Linguist during the Kosovo conflict. While studying Russian in Tver, Russina, Stephen was able to play in local semi-pro league. Upon return to the US. Stephen was selected to play for the US Army team and competed in the all-forces tournament.

At 31 Stephen began coaching by working as the club coach for the University of Colorado, then worked in Valle de Bravo, Mexico at Pumas’ Academy. When he moved to Philadelphia in 2002 Stephen coached for Frankford High School and Germantown Academy unitl 2008 and during that time earned a Masters in Education from La Salle University.

In 2009 Stephen moved to Colorado and was the head coach for Conifer High School in 2010 would take a long stint recovering from the paralysis caused by Guillain Barré Syndrome. Stephen got back to coaching, working as a private coach and worked as a head coach at Lake Wales High School in Florida, and the JV coach at the Blue Ridge School in Virginia and moved to Tacoma, Washington in 2015 where he started running private Goalkeeper Sessions and now works with Eagleclaw Football Club in Tukwila.