Induction Video(Written: June 2015)Ed Schwager was a student-athlete, and eventually a coach and administrator, at UW-Whitewater. He was a three-year letterwinner and three-time all-conference honoree for both the men’s basketball and football teams, and a member of the men’s track & field team. Schwager led the men’s basketball squad in scoring three seasons and was a captain in 1929-30.
He was a player/coach for the Fort Atkinson Blackhawks, a team that lost just one game in 1931 (to the Green Bay Packers), and was selected the American Legion Award winner for athletics and scholastic achievement in 1932.
In 1942, he joined UW-Whitewater as director of intercollegiate athletics, a position he held until 1971. Schwager was the head coach for the football (1942, 1946-55), men’s basketball (1942-44, 1946-48) and baseball (1955-59) programs. He claimed conference titles in baseball (1957-58), men’s basketball (1943) and football (1950). Schwager also served as head track & field coach from 1946-53. He is credited with facilitating the addition of baseball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, swimming & diving, tennis and wrestling in his time at the helm of the department.
From 1942-46, Schwager served in the Navy in World War II. A street on campus is named in his honor. He is a member of the NAIA District 14 and UW-Whitewater halls of fame. Schwager earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from UW-Whitewater and master’s degree in physical education from UW-Madison.
He passed away in April 1992.