West Liberty University Athletics

    Although he never played a game of high school football, Noel Schwertfeger took advantage of his "on the job training" at West Liberty to become an key performer on Hilltopper football teams in the late 1950s before embarking on a lengthy high school coaching career.
    A West Liberty native, Schwertfeger arrived on campus in 1957 after starring on the West Liberty High School basketball team. An excellent student and 2-time All-Tournament selection, Schwertfeger received the prestigious Coca-Cola Academic and Athletic Award as a senior.
    Schwertfeger overcame his lack of high school football experience through hard work and dedication, emerging as a two-way starter at linebacker and offensive guard during his junior season under head coach Al Blatnik. There were several games during his senior season that he never left the field as he also played on all special teams.
     Following graduation from WLSC, he spent 37 years as a teacher and 28 years coaching basketball, football, track, and wrestling in the Ohio Valley. He was an assistant coach with Weir High's 1966 West Virginia state championship wrestling team.