JACKSONVILLE – Andrew Swift has been named assistant soccer coach at Jacksonville State University, as announced Friday by head coach Julie Davis.

Swift, 25, joins the Gamecocks after a one-year stint as an assistant coach in charge of goalkeepers at Akron University. Under Swift's guidance last season, Akron goalkeepers posted a 1.02 goals against average, fourth-best in the MAC. At JSU, Swift's coaching duties will expand and encompass training of all positions, recruiting and other various off-the-field duties.

“The addition of Andy Swift will be a breath of fresh air for us when he joins our team this February,” Davis said. “There are many characteristics to Andy that make him an excellent and exciting addition to our staff. He has a tremendous personality and will be a great asset in his ability to recruit quality student-athletes and coordinate recruiting duties.”

“I'm very excited to become part of the JSU sporting tradition,” Swift said, “and I would like to thank Mr. Fuller and Coach Davis for this fantastic opportunity. I look forward to arriving on campus to start working with the team and coaches to help get the Gamecock women's soccer team to the level we are striving for.”

Swift entered coaching after a successful two-sport playing career at the University of Maine at Machias. The Birmingham, England native lettered in both soccer and basketball at UMM. He received All-Sunrise Conference honorable mention honors as a senior when he led UMM to a 10-5-0 record as the starting goalkeeper. Swift also earned a number of academic awards during his player career. He was named Academic All-America in 2003 and was a two-time Sunrise Conference Scholar Athlete.

After his collegiate playing career, Swift served as an assistant soccer coach at Clarion University in Pennsylvania for two seasons before moving on to Akron.

“Andy's coaching experience at a high competitive level will be a major asset to our program as we continue to build the JSU Soccer program into a winner,” Davis said. “He will bring energy, knowledge and wisdom along with his successes as a player. Andy presents a dedicated and honorable work ethic and has great passion for the game of soccer. He shows great promise as a coach at this level.”

Swift holds a National Soccer Coaches Association of American National Goalkeeper Diploma, as well as State, Regional and Advanced Regional diplomas.

In 2005 he graduated Summa Cum Laude from UMM with a BS in Recreation Management. He also holds a Masters in Mass Media Arts and Journalism from Clarion University.