As I said in the other thread, I think there is a very good chance that Swope is 'the guy.' Once he has some success, I think he will look to sustain it and remain in College Park for the long term. Official release below:
COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Matt Swope ‘03, who has been associated with Maryland baseball for more than two decades was named head coach of the Terrapins by Damon Evans, Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics on Monday. Swope has been a part of the Maryland baseball staff for the past 11 seasons as the Terrapins advanced to six NCAA Regionals and two Super Regionals. Maryland won back-to-back Big Ten Championships in the last two seasons and won its first Big Ten Tournament Championship this past season, with Swope serving as associate head coach. He is the ninth head coach in the 132-year history of Maryland baseball as he replaces Rob Vaughn, who was hired at the University of Alabama.
“We are excited to name Maryland alum Matt Swope as the new head coach of his alma mater,” said Evans. “Matt has been a vital part of the most successful era in Maryland baseball history, one where we set numerous records. He has been directly responsible for our offensive explosion over the last three years as we set records for runs scored, home runs, hits, RBI, slugging percentage, and walks. Being a hometown guy, I know what this means to Matt, being able to lead his beloved Terrapins. We are excited to welcome Matt and his family in this new role as we look to continue the wonderful momentum Maryland baseball has built in recent years.
“I want to thank Rob Vaughn for his 10 years at Maryland as he has lifted the Terrapin program to heights we have never seen before. Rob led us to back-to-back Big Ten Championships and claimed both the Big Ten regular-season title and tournament crown this past season. During his 10 years with the Terps, we appeared in six NCAA Regionals, an unprecedented era in program history, and hosted the first-ever NCAA Regional in school history, last season. We wish Rob and his family the very best in their move to Tuscaloosa.”
Swope is a native of New Carrollton, Maryland, and a graduate of DeMatha Catholic High School. He becomes the first Maryland baseball head coach to lead his alma mater since Tom Bradley ‘72 (head coach from 1991-2000), who recruited Swope to Maryland in 1998. As a player and staff member, Swope has been a part of 461 victories as a Terp.
“This is truly a dream come true, to be named the head baseball coach at the University of Maryland,” said Swope. “Growing up just down the road from College Park, then playing for the Terps, returning to join the staff, and now being able to lead the Terps is something that means the world to me. I love this place and will work tirelessly to continue the winning ways we have made the standard for Maryland baseball. There is so much to be proud of and I can’t wait to coach that first game on Shipley Field at Bob ‘Turtle’ Smith Stadium as the head coach of the Maryland Terrapins.”
Swope has served as associate head coach of the Terps since 2022 as Maryland has had unprecedented success on the diamond. Maryland combined to win 90 games over the last two seasons, the two winningest seasons in program history as the Terps went 48-14 in 2022 and 42-21 in 2023, in winning Big Ten Championships and qualifying for the NCAA Regionals in both seasons. Overall, Swope has been a part of the six winningest seasons in program history (2002, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2022, and 2023).
Between 2022 and 2023, the Maryland offense shattered numerous program records under Swope's direction. The Terps set records for most home runs (137), most hits (684), most runs (578), most RBIs (552), highest slugging percentage (.564), and most walks (385). Maryland became the first school in more than 30 years with outright back-to-back Big Ten Players of the Year in Chris Alleyne (2022) and Matt Shaw (2023).
In the 2023 season, Nick Lorusso set the school single-season records for home runs (26), RBI (105) and hits (100) becoming the first player in Division I baseball to drive in 100 runs in a season in 20 years. Shaw and Lorusso each broke the school records for career home runs and RBI. Luke Shliger broke Swope’s 20-year record (181) for the most runs scored in a single season with 189.
Maryland enters the 2024 season having won 22 consecutive Big Ten series, dating back to the middle of the 2021 season.
During Swope’s tenure on the Maryland staff since 2013, 34 Terps have been drafted, including 12 selections in the Top 10 rounds and more to come this summer in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Swope served as an assistant coach with the Terps from 2017-22 and director of operations from 2013-17. Swope helped overhaul the Maryland baseball brand in his time as director of operations, managing a number of areas including the Terps’ budget, fundraising, scheduling, travel logistics, team events, compliance, social media, equipment, and apparel. He was directly involved with Maryland’s locker room renovation project, the Home Field project with the architecture department, and upgrades to Bob “Turtle” Smith Stadium.
The Maryland alum oversaw the state and foundation budgets and was directly involved with the Home Run Club, which liaises with former players and boosters of the program, helping raise more than $1 million in private funds since 2012.
Swope was a four-year starter and had an illustrious career in College Park from 1999-2002. Playing outfield for the Terps, Swope finished his career with a .331 batting average, 16 home runs, and 135 RBI. Many of his players have passed him on the career lists, but he still stands second in runs scored (181), and hits (253), fifth in walks (106), seventh in total bases (360), ninth in RBI, and 10th in stolen bases (44).
As a senior in 2002, Swope posted a .368 batting average with 64 runs scored, 55 RBI and 31 extra-base hits to help the Terps win a then program-record 34 games. As a junior, Swope hit .328 and tallied seven home runs and 34 RBI.
Swope was selected in the 2002 MLB Draft by the Montreal Expos where he spent the season with their Class A affiliate Clinton Lumber Kings and their Class A Short-Season affiliate Vermont Expos.
In 2005, Swope spent the season with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League. Swope and the Wild Things enjoyed a successful season. The Wild Things set a Frontier League record with 63 wins, while Swope hit .309 with 10 home runs. Swope had a 28-game hitting streak during the 2005 season.
Swope was nominated as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Societies Man of The Year in 2010 and has raised over $100,000 for the LLS and Kids Vs. Cancer Foundation.
Swope received his bachelor's degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Maryland in 2003. Swope and Katie have three children: Olivia, Reese and Baylor.
