Joel A. Swisher (October 29, 1943 â February 17, 2000) was an American college football coach and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Dakota State University (1973âÂÂ1976), Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota (1977âÂÂ1980), Adams State College (1982âÂÂ1983), and Jamestown College (1992âÂÂ1994), compiling a career college football head coaching record of 65âÂÂ55âÂÂ4. Swisher was also the athletic director at Dakota State from 1974 to 1977.
Swisher was born on October 29, 1943, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He was the son of Clark Swisher, who was a longtime coach and athletic director at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The younger Swisher attended Northern State, where he lettered for four years in both football and basketball before graduating with a Bachelor of Science in secondary education. Swisher later earned a master's degree physical education from South Dakota State University, and, in 1972, a doctorate in health and physical education form the University of Utah.
Swisher was hired in 1972 at Doane CollegeâÂÂnow known as Doane UniversityâÂÂCrete, Nebraska, as an assistant coach in football and track and assistant professor of physical education. In 1973, he was hired as the head football coach at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota. The following year, he succeeded Neil Hattlestad at the school's athletic director.
Swisher was the 16th head football coach at Adams State CollegeâÂÂnow known as Adams State UniversityâÂÂin Alamosa, Colorado, serving for two seasons, from 1982 to 1983, and compiling a record of 7âÂÂ10âÂÂ2 He was the head football coach at Jamestown CollegeâÂÂnow known as the University of JamestownâÂÂin Jamestown, North Dakota for three seasons, from 1992 to 1994, tallying a mark of 15âÂÂ12.
Swisher died on February 17, 2000, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, after suffering a heart attack.