October 23, 2012

Grant Swallows to be inducted into TTU Sports Hall of Fame Nov. 2

One of the last of a rare breed, Grant Swallows was a two-sport, six-time letterwinner and a former senior administrator at Tennessee Tech. Swallows is one of four people who will be inducted at the annual Hall of Fame Dinner, Nov. 2.

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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- One of the last of a rare breed, Grant Swallows was a two-sport letterwinner at Tennessee Tech. A six-time letterwinner (four in football and two in baseball) and a former senior administrator at Tennessee Tech, Grant left his mark on Tennessee Tech Athletics in more than one capacity.

It was his four solid seasons as Golden Eagle quarterback that earned him a spot among Tech’s Hall of Fame inductees.

Swallows is one of four people who will be inducted at the annual Hall of Fame Dinner, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 2, in the Multipurpose Room of the Roaden University Center. The induction dinner is part of Homecoming festivities. Tickets for the dinner, or the Saturday afternoon game against Eastern Illinois, can be purchased through the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center or by calling (931) 372-3940.

A three-year starter under head coach Mike Hennigan, Swallows reaped numerous awards and honors as one of the most distinguished quarterbacks in TTU history. Over the course of his career on the gridiron, Swallows broke 16 career, season and single-game records.

During his final season at Tech in 2001, Swallows set the school record for most completions in a season, most yards in a single game and a single season, and most touchdown passes in a single game. Furthermore, he set the record for TD passes in a single season and for overall touchdowns responsible for.

In a game against UT Martin, Swallows logged an 86.9 completion percentage against UT Martin, going 20-for-23, to establish yet another school record.

For his efforts during that season, Swallows was named one of three permanent team captains and was awarded the Robert Hill Johnson Award and the Sonny Allen Leadership Award, as well as the 2001 Headliner Award. An All-OVC second-team honoree and an Academic All-District honoree, he was the OVC Player of the Week for three consecutive weeks.

The following spring, Swallows became the first TTU student-athlete to be named both Male Athlete of the Year and Man of the Year. He was also the recipient of the 2002 OVC Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award, an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship award and was one of eight recipients nationally to receive the NCAA Freedom Forum Foundation Journalism Scholarship.

Swallows was also given the opportunity to play professional football overseas in Germany, but an injury ended his playing career.

As a junior. Swallows led the Golden Eagle football team to an 8-3 overall record and was named Academic All-America. When football was finished, he moved across campus to play on the baseball team and helped lead Tech to the OVC championship and NCAA Regional. A third baseman, he played in 33 games.

Swallows earned his bachelor's degree in 2003 in English-journalism, being named to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll 10 times and the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll four times.

After returning from Germany, Swallows moved from the playing field to the sidelines, serving as a student assistant coach at his alma mater beginning in 2002.

In 2003, Swallows was named assistant football and baseball coach at Livingston Academy, and began work toward a master’s degree. He claimed that degree in 2005, and added an Ed.S. in 2006.

Also in 2006, he came back to Tech to serve as quarterbacks coach under interim coach Doug Malone, helping freshman Lee Sweeney earn OVC Newcomer of the Year honor.

That led to his being named head football coach and assistant principal at Livingston Academy in 2007, but in 2008 he once again came back to Cookeville, taking the position of Associate Athletics Director for Development.

His latest career move came in July 2011, as Grant was named principal at White County High School in Sparta.

Grant married Beth Ann Johnson, his college sweetheart, and the couple is raising their two children -- Brady (5) and Anniston (3).