Nelson University Welcomes Barry Swartz as the Warriors' new Head Men's Soccer Coach
Coach Swartz has deep ties to Valley soccer, and is excited to bring his experience to Nelson University.
Nelson University is proud to announce the addition of Barry Swartz, a distinguished Glendale, Arizona native, as the school's head Men's Soccer Coach. With an impressive history as a player, coach, and mentor, Coach Swartz brings a wealth of experience and a lifelong commitment to excellence both on and off the pitch.
Born and raised in Glendale, Coach Swartz is a 1991 graduate of the Glendale High School Cardinals, where he excelled as a forward on the soccer team, scoring an extraordinary 91 goals over four years. Continuing his passion for soccer, he attended Fresno Pacific University (1991-1993), where he finished as the clubs leading scorer and a standout in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) during his freshman year. After two illustrious seasons at Fresno Pacific, he transferred to Grand Canyon University, where he concluded a remarkable playing career and earned his bachelor's degree in 1995.
Coach Swartz's transition from the field to the sidelines was marked by early success as the head coach for Glendale Community College's women's soccer team (1996-1999). Under his leadership, the team won two conference regular-season championships and secured two district runner-up finishes, achieving a national ranking as high as 4th. Since 2010, he has been coaching with the CCV Stars, currently leading the U-19 Boys ECNL team. His coaching résumé also includes serving as the assistant coach for Arizona Christian University's men's soccer team from 2018 to 2021, where the team captured a GSAC tournament championship and secured the school's first-ever national tournament berth.
Off the field, Barry Swartz is deeply dedicated to his family. Married to Holly, together they are proud parents to two children, Trevor and Emma.
Nelson University is thrilled to have Barry Swartz join our team, confident that their experience, leadership, and passion for developing athletes will elevate our programs to new heights. Please join us in welcoming Coach Swartz to the Nelson University family!