By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It was going to take a special opportunity to lure Perry-Lecompton defensive coordinator Jared Swafford away from his hometown high school, but Seaman fit that bill.
Swafford, who helped the Kaws reach the Class 3A state championship game the past two seasons, was approved by the USD 345 school board Monday night as the Vikings' new head football coach, taking over for Glenn O'Neil, who resigned after five seasons at Seaman to accept a position at Dodge City.
The 37-year-old Swafford, a 2002 Perry-Lecompton graduate, has also served as the Kaws' head boys basketball the past seven seasons, posting a 92-63 record. Swafford's Kaws have posted five straight winning seasons in basketball, including back-to-back 3A state berths in 2018 and 2019 (third place).
"It's always going to be difficult when it's your hometown but I felt like I was ready for a different opportunity in the right opportunity presented itself and I've heard nothing but good things about Seaman High School,'' Swafford said.
"When that chance came aong it felt right through the interview process and meeting some of the people that work there and I have no reservations at all. I love the opportunity.''
New Seaman head football coach Jared Swafford (left) chats with Rossville's Derick Hammes during last week's Junior Combine at Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Swafford, who played collegiately at Emporia State, has been on Perry-Lecompton's coaching staff since 2009 and started as a para-professional before teaching business and technology.
"I had a couple of different jobs (out of college) and realized I wanted to get into coaching and reached out to Coach (Mike) Paramore in one of the local camps that he was running and it got to the point that where he asked me if I would have interest in joining the staff maybe,'' Swafford recalled. "I said, 'Absolutely!' ''
Now Swafford is eager to take the next step in his coaching career at Seaman.
"You've got a blue-collar community and you've got a community that's fully invested in their programs, all their programs,'' Swafford said. "The facilities are great, you've got great prople in the administration and it's hard to turn down that kind of an opportunity.''
Swafford will be taking over a Seaman team that posted a 7-2 record last fall, earning the No. 1 East seed in 5A before losing to Blue Valley Southwest, 27-21.
"I'm very excited,'' Swafford said. "I'm just ready to get things going and ready to meet the kids and get in there and watch them work and build relationships.''
Swafford and his wife, Jamie, have three sons -- Chase, Cash and Jett.
O'Neil posted a 26-22 record at Seaman, including an 8-3 record in Year 1 and last fall's 7-2 campaign.
