Kris Swogger became Keiser University’s second Director of Athletics on September 21, 2016. From July 2016 to September 2016 he served as the Interim Director of Athletics, and prior to that held the role of Assistant Athletic Director at Keiser University.
Swogger joined the Seahawks in February of 2011, and since that time the athletic department has grown from 242 student athletes (fall 2012) to over 600 (fall 2017), and from 11 NAIA Varsity Sports to 26 NAIA Varsity sports offered.
The past five seasons have seen a number of milestones reached and records broken. A few of the highlights:
2019-20 season – Keiser University won two NAIA National Championships (women’s soccer, men’s swimming), raising the program total to eight, captured 10 individual and six relay NAIA National Championships, claimed eight conference championships, two tournament championships, and six teams appeared in the national tournament. In the classroom, 118 athletes earned Academic All-Conference honors and 63 were named NAIA Scholar Athletes. The season was cut short in the spring due to COVID 19.
2018-2019 season- The Seahawks finished fourth for the second straight year in the Learfield Cup standings, win eight conference championships, claimed a sixth NAIA National Championship (men’s swimming), captured nine individual and seven relay NAIA Championships (swimming and indoor track & field), 11 teams make the NAIA National Tournament, including nine teams ranked nationally at the end of the year. In addition, 74 Seahawks received Academic All-Conference honors and 34 earn NAIA Scholar Athlete recognition.
2017-2018 season- Keiser University captured its third consecutive TSC Commissioner’s Cup, finished fourth in the Learfield Cup standings, announced the addition of men’s wrestling, competed in its inaugural football season (6-4 record and a top 25 ranking during the season), won a fifth NAIA National Title (men’s swimming), captured seven individual and four relay NAIA individual National Championships (swimming and indoor track and field), and had 14 teams make a NAIA National Tournament appearance, including seven teams that finished ranked nationally in the top five or higher.
2016-2017 season- Keiser University captured its second consecutive TSC Commissioner’s Cup, secured the highest finish in the Learfield Cup standings in program history (#3), added four NAIA Varsity sports (men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, men’s swimming, women’s swimming), and had 12 teams make a NAIA National Tournament appearance, including five teams that finished ranked nationally in the top 5 or higher. In addition, Swogger was named the TSC Athletic Director of the Year.
2015-2016 season- Keiser University captured its first ever TSC Commissioner’s Cup Trophy, its 4th NAIA National Title (women’s golf), secured a top 25 finish in the Learfield Cup standings (#22), and had 9 teams make a NAIA National Tournament appearance.
In addition to his work at Keiser University, Swogger served on the Seahawks Athletic Leadership Committee, the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship planning and ticket committee (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017); the NAIA Women’s Golf National Championship planning committee (2016) and is an active member of NACDA.
Swogger is also highly focused on Keiser student-athletes’ academic success. In 2016-2017 the Keiser Athletic Department boasted 10 NAIA Scholar Teams and its varsity level sports achieved a 3.11 cumulative GPA, which is the highest GPA in the department’s history. Further improving the student-athlete experience, Swogger launched the Association of Student Athletes (ASA) in 2014. serving as its advisor from 2014-2016.
A graduate of Florida State University, Swogger earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2002. After completing his studies at Florida State he worked in South Florida as a District and Sales Manager before returning to Florida International University in 2009 to obtain his Master’s Degree in Sports Management. While attending graduate school, Kris worked as a graduate assistant with the FIU Athletic Department until he finished his degree in December 2010. While in this role his primary responsibilities were assisting in the marketing and promotion of FIU’s athletic teams thru social media, on-campus marketing initiatives to increase student attendance, helped execute corporate sponsorships thru game day promotions, coordinated in-game entertainment and public address scripts, community events, development of print materials, and assisted in day-to-day functions of the athletics marketing office.
A native of Ocala, Florida, Swogger and his wife, Stacey, have two daughters (Kaitlyn and Taylor).