PHILADELPHIA – After serving as offensive coordinator and Clarence S. Rockwell, VMD Quarterbacks Coach for the University of Pennsylvania football team the past two seasons, Dan Swanstrom was announced as the new head football coach at Cornell on Thursday morning.
 
Swanstrom exits University City following two separate stints at Penn—from 2014-16 as quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator and 2022-23 in his role as offensive coordinator—and heads back to the town where he spent five seasons as the head coach at Ithaca College.
 
"This is a day of mixed emotions," said Penn's George A. Munger Head Coach of Football, Ray Priore. "Obviously, I'm thrilled for Dan to get the opportunity to be a head coach again—he had a ton of success at Ithaca before he came back to us two years ago and is fully deserving of this chance. Our offense has grown exponentially over the last two years under his leadership, and if you look at our offense as a whole—from the line through the skill positions—you will see guys who have gotten better at every position under his watch.
 
"The flip side, of course, is that he'll be heading up one of our Ivy rivals. So, I'm sure the guys he has coached here will be cheering for him to have success for nine weeks each season, but in Week 8 it'll be all business."
 
Swanstrom led the Quakers offense to new heights during his second tenure, leading the Ivy League in total yardage (4,013) this past year.
 
In 2023, freshman running back Malachi Hosley was a leading beneficiary of Swanstrom's offensive scheme, named Ivy League Rookie of the Year. He totaled 723 yards on 121 carries with seven TDs, ranked second and third in the Ancient Eight, respectively. Hosley was named Rookie of the Week a program-record five times in 2023, named Offensive Player of the Week and FCS Freshman of the Week after a 261-yard effort against the Big Red.
 
Hosley, along with Jake Ligos and Jared Richardson earned first-team All-Ivy honors as a part of Swanstrom's offense in 2023.
 
Swanstrom was instrumental in mentoring quarterback Aidan Sayin the last two years, amassing 5,149 yards and 34 touchdowns during the timeframe. In 2023, Sayin tallied 2,805 yards with 16 touchdowns, ranked second and third among Ivy signal callers, respectively. In addition, Sayin was third among FCS QBs for completions per game (27.6) by season's end.
 
At Ithaca, Swanstrom led the Bombers to success during his head coaching tenure, posting the highest winning percentage for any coach in program history that has coached more than one season. Swanstrom went 32-11 (.744) and his teams registered eight wins in all four seasons in which they took the field.
 
During his first stint with the Quakers, Swanstrom oversaw the growth of Alek Torgersen, a two-time first-team All-Ivy selection who became just the second signal caller in school history to pass for more than 7,000 yards. After leading the Red and Blue to success under Swanstrom's tutelage, Torgersen signed with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons in 2017.
 
Aside from his spells at Penn and Ithaca, Swanstrom also spent time coaching at Johns Hopkins (2008-13) and University of the Redlands (2006-08).
 
"I want to thank Ray Priore for my time at Penn," said Swanstrom. "His support, friendship and unwavering belief in me over these past two years will always be cherished. I would also like to thank the players, coaches and alumni for the many meaningful relationships that I have developed.
 
"The opportunity to be the Head Football Coach at Cornell, in the best football league, is special. I understand that this would not be possible without Penn Football, and I will never forget that."
 
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