By Jessie Cai

The Daily Northwestern

After a season’s absence, Arvid Swan, former men’s tennis assistant and associate head coach, has returned to Northwestern as head coach after a successful 18-7 season leading DePaul University.

Swan was hired on Aug. 6 to replace former coach Paul Torricelli, who coached NU for 24 years and served as Swan’s mentor.

“I really appreciate the opportunity (Athletic Director Mark) Murphy and (Associate Athletic Director) John Mack gave me. It was my dream job to coach here – I love the Big Ten and I love Chicago,” Swan said. “It’s a really special place and I think we can really be good.”

Swan was particularly attracted to NU not just because of Chicago, but because “it is one of the few schools where you can play in a major league conference and get an Ivy League education.”

As a two-year captain of his Michigan squad, Swan encapsulated both the athleticism and the academics he values in NU. In 1996, Swan earned All-Big Ten honors and was an integral part of Michigan’s success in winning the conference title. He also helped lead his squad to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 10 seasons, all while remaining a member of the Academic All-Big Ten team for three years.

As DePaul’s head coach for just one year, Swan turned the team around after a disappointing 8-14 season, finishing the 2006-2007 season with an 18-7 record. He instilled discipline and formed a better conditioned team. Swan also focused on training his team to learn to work the competition and to not give free points away.

“I’m impressed at how he turned around the DePaul team,” junior Alexey Evstratenkov said. “They beat some Big Ten teams, which is impressive.”

Swan expects to instill the same discipline and intense conditioning that worked so well at DePaul in his players at NU.

“It’s going to be different this year. I’ve put tremendous emphasis on conditioning,” Swan said. “We practice twice a day, we lift and we run. It’s an intense program.”

As assistant coach for two seasons with the Wildcats and associate head coach for one, Swan worked closely with the team, leading individual workouts, running practices and recruiting. He made history after his promotion to associate head coach, as he was the first to earn the title in NU history in 2005.

During his stay, Swan assisted the Cats in reaching the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament in 2004 and 2005, as well as clinching a berth in the 2005 NCAA Tournament. NU finished fourth in the Big Ten in those two years and was ranked in the top 40 nationally during the seasons.

“Obviously it is a great honor to take over for Torricelli. He gave 24 years of service, and the program has a rich tradition and history,” Swan said. “I really have a lot to live up to in terms of standards here.”

Having already been a part of the coaching staff at NU, Swan is familiar with many of the players and their playing styles.

“I have a certain amount of knowledge about their game, and each year you want to see development,” Swan said.

Swan is also earning respect among the squad his enthusiasm and intensity.

“I already know him, and I already know what he wants from me,” Evstratenkov said. “He’s really intense and just loves his job, which is really important.”

The players are adjusting to Swan’s high-intensity style. Sophomore Alex Sanborn said he has benefited from having more practices and individual workouts a week.

“It’s been going really well,” Sanborn said. “I’ve been playing a lot better and feel really fit now.”

The squad hopes to make the NCAA tournament this year, having barely missed it last season with a 10-14 record.

“We have a good group of kids with great leadership, so hopefully we can (make the tournament),” Swan said. “We also added a great assistant coach, Chris Drake, who was top 100 in the world and he can really help us with his professional experience.”

The revamped coaching staff and more intense approach are sources of widespread optimism for the NU tennis squad.

“I feel (that) we can do really great things here,” Swan said. “For me, there really isn’t a better job.”

Reach Jessie Cai [email protected].