NIC announces Swanson as head women's basketball coach; Dowd as assistant women's basketball coach
George Swanson
North Idaho College Athletics Director Shawn Noel is proud to announce the hiring of George Swanson as NIC’s new head women’s basketball coach.
Swanson has been the NIC assistant men’s basketball coach for the past eight years. He has served as the recruiting coordinator and has been highly involved in the success of student-athletes.
“George has played a crucial role in the success of the NIC men’s basketball team as the assistant coach,” Noel said. “I am very confident that he is ready to build a legacy on the women’s side as head coach.”
Swanson came to NIC in 2014 after spending two seasons as head coach at Reardon High School in Reardon, Washington and at Emerald City Basketball Academy in Kent, Washington. He also served as head coach at Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen, Washington, where he led the team to the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges tournament and a No. 1 ranking in the NWAACC poll. He was also an assistant coach at Pierce College in Puyallup, Washington, and at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.
As an athlete, Swanson played at Grays Harbor College and later transferred to Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, where he was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame after helping win the school’s only national championship.
Swanson earned his bachelor’s degree in health science from Eastern Washington University in 2006.
Samuel Dowd
Samuel Dowd, who has been the NIC women’s basketball interim assistant coach for the 2021-22 season, has been officially named as the permanent assistant coach.
“I believe Sam and George will work well together,” said Noel. “Sam is very passionate about basketball and eager to learn more and grow as a coach. His work the past year serving as interim has proven he is ready for this role.”
A Seattle native, Dowd placed at the state basketball tournament twice while attending Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane.
Following his high school career, he played on the men’s basketball team at North Idaho College and received an associate degree in communications. He then transferred to Idaho State University where he played NCAA Division I basketball from 2017-2019. During his time at Idaho State, Dowd received the NCAA Most Courageous Award and earned his bachelor’s degree in communications.
Dowd then signed a professional basketball contract with the University of Philippines UAAP League. Upon his return to the U.S., he began to assist in coaching the NIC women's basketball team while pursuing his basketball training business.
For more information, please contact NIC Athletics Director Shawn Noel at (208) 665-5458 or shnoel@nic.edu.
Posted: Monday, May 2, 2022
