Everywhere Dan Swanstrom has planted his feet, success has followed.

A record-breaking quarterback and national player of the year finalist. An assistant coach and offensive coordinator at academically-focused institutions that earned seven league titles over the span of 10 seasons. An award-winning head coach that led nearby Ithaca College back to national prominence.

Swanstrom is now tasked with creating that winning culture after being named the Roger J. Weiss '61 Head Coach of Cornell football on Thursday morning. He was introduced to the campus community at a press conference Friday morning in the Hall of Fame Room in Friends Hall. 

"My family and I couldn't be more excited to come back home to Ithaca," Swanstrom said. "I truly believe that everything I have done in my personal and professional life has led me to this opportunity, and I look forward to creating a championship culture on and off the field. The passion for Cornell Football was very apparent during the interview process and gives me great confidence in the future."

In five seasons at Ithaca College, Swanstrom's teams compiled a 32-11 record, captured three league titles and, maybe most importantly, three Cortaca crowns in the biggest little rivalry in college football.

Sandwiched around his head coaching stop with the Bombers were a pair of stints at Ivy rival Penn, first as quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator and later as offensive coordinator. He was part of the 2015 and 2016 Ivy League championship teams at Penn as an assistant coach, then helped the Quakers jump from last to first in the Ancient Eight in total offense over two seasons while helping Penn improve by five wins from the previous season.
 
As offensive coordinator at Johns Hopkins from 2008-13, Swanstom helped guide the squad to five conference titles and a 48-10 record while rewriting nearly every offensive team record in school history. At Redlands University in Redlands, Calif. as a graduate assistant coach, his team won its league championship. When he coached a year at Stratford HS in Houston, Texas, Swanstrom mentored future No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick Andrew Luck.

Swanstrom was a three-time all-league selection as a record-breaking quarterback at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. A finalist for Division III national player of the year and a two-time team captain, he went on to play in the German Football League with the Darmstadt Diamonds where he, not surprisingly, directed the team to a conference title.

With his page turning towards East Hill, the first question is "why Cornell?".

"I know the area well," Swanstrom said. "I've got great relationships and family in the area, but that was all second to the football part ... there is a legitimate vision here to have a great football program. I am truly passionate about and excited to have this opportunity."

With spring ball nearing, Swanstrom will get up and running in the new semester with Cornell football. 

"The 2024 season is in construction, so we don't have much time," he said. "We have got to get to work, and I am truly excited to be your next head football coach. It's a special moment being in front of you guys, I'm excited to be here ready to go to work for you guys."

While the Swanstrom era begins today, his first game sits a little more than eight months away. He's first action at the helm begins Saturday, Sep. 21, 2024 at Colgate, followed by the home opener on Saturday, Sep. 28 when the Big Red hosts Yale.