Fran Schwenk named head football coach at William Jewell

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Liberty, MO: Director of athletics Dr. James Redd announced today that Fran Schwenk has been named the new head football coach at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. 

Schwenk has served as head football coach, athletic director and associate professor of physical education at Doane College in Crete, Neb., since 1984. He was the first coach in the college’s history to reach the 100-win mark in 2001. Schwenk’s overall record at Doane was 123-88-3. 

“We are pleased to have a coach of Fran’s caliber joining the Cardinal staff,” said Dr. Jim Redd, director of athletics and chair of the physical education department at William Jewell. “Fran is not only a gifted coach but also a strong educator. He will play a key role in developing the new physical education and recreation and sport majors at William Jewell.” 

In addition to his football coaching duties, Schwenk will serve as assistant athletics director and instructor in physical education.  

Schwenk earned a bachelor of science and master’s degrees at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, where he was a four-year letterman and earned outstanding running back honors during the 1968 season. He coached at several schools in Missouri, establishing winning programs at Eastgate Junior High school in Kansas City, Rock Port High School and Clinton High School before becoming defensive backs coach at Missouri Western in St. Joseph in 1980. 

Schwenk’s professional memberships include the Nebraska High School Activities Association, American Football Coaches Association and the NAIA Football Association. . He served as president of the NAIA Football Association from 2002-2004. He was named the State College Coach of the Year by the Omaha World Herald in 1997 and was the Lincoln Journal-Star’s Nebraska State College Coach of the Year in 1993. Coach Schwenk has taken his teams for international competition in New Zealand, Norway and Sweden. Schwenk and his wife, Sue, have three daughters: Hillory, Brandy and Aubrey.