West Liberty University Athletics

    Western Pennsylvania native Frank Sworden was a four-year regular on the Hilltopper defensive line who earned multiple All-WVIAC honors during the late 1960s and went on to a stellar high school coaching career.
    Sworden helped anchor West Liberty's defensive front for Hall of Fame Coach Bob Roe from 1965-68. A 2-time All-WVIAC selection, Sworden was twice named WVIAC Defensive Player of the Week during his senior season on his way to nailing down a first-team All-WVIAC berth.
    After graduation, Sworden began his teaching and coaching career as a high school assistant before moving into the college ranks as defensive coordinator at W.Va. Wesleyan and Washington & Jefferson. He was hired as head coach at Claysville (Pa.) McGuffey High School in 1979 and wasted little time transforming the struggling program into a perennial WPIAL Class AAA power.
    Sworden posted 16 winning seasons in his 22 years with the Highlanders, capped by back-to-back runs to the WPIAL Class AAA championship game in 1993 and 1994. McGuffey settled for runner-up honors in 1993 but bounced back with a perfect 13-0 championship season the following year. In recognition of that accomplishment, Sworden was chosen as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Class AAA Coach of the Year and received the prestigious Dapper Dan Coach of the Year Award.
    Frank is the older brother of fellow WLU Hall of Famer Michael "Mickey" Sworden.