Swanson named NIC women's basketball coach

COEUR d'ALENE — George Swanson, assistant men’s basketball coach at North Idaho College for the past eight years, has been named head women's basketball coach at NIC, athletic director Shawn Noel announced.

Swanson has served as the recruiting coordinator for the NIC men.

“George has played a crucial role in the success of the NIC men’s basketball team as the assistant coach,” Noel said in a university news release. “I am very confident that he is ready to build a legacy on the women’s side as head coach.”

Swanson, who replaces interim women's basketball coach Korina Baker, came to NIC in 2014 after spending two seasons as head coach at Reardan (Wash.) High and at Emerald City Basketball Academy in Kent, Wash. He also served as head coach at Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen, Wash., where he led the team to the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (now NWAC) tournament and a No. 1 ranking in the NWAACC poll. He was also an assistant coach at Pierce College in Puyallup, Wash., and at Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.

Swanson played at Grays Harbor College and later transferred to Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash., 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.

Sam Dowd, a former Cardinal player who was 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,” Noel said. “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 Prep in Spokane.

Following his high school career, he played on the men’s basketball team at NIC and received an associate degree in communications. He then transferred to Idaho State where he played from 2017-19. 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.