Men's Tennis
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- daschwandt@liberty.edu
- Start Date:
- 05/30/2017
Coaching Philosophy
We focus on developing people first. Off-court disciplines and character will be revealed on the court when we are tested daily. We support our team by building relationships and challenging them on and off court every day. We focus on developing players individually in a way that maximizes each athlete’s gifts, while building an inspired team dynamic. We believe in pursuing a strong base of physical conditioning. We seek to improve as coaches continuously, consulting with elite coaches and mentors.
We recruit great athletes who have a deep love of the battle. Tennis is challenging mentally, physically and emotionally. The fighting spirit and the ability to respond to setbacks is so important. A player who loves the game and is a true competitor will keep responding no matter what.
We recruit athletes who are teachable and have great work ethics. A hard working and humble athlete who receives coaching will improve continuously and sustain success in the long run. “The greatest talent an athlete has is the ability to learn.” -Toni Nadal
In Schwandt’s eight seasons at Liberty, The Flames secured back-to-back ASUN titles in 2021 and 2022, qualifying for the NCAA Team Championships in each year and secured the first-ever Universal Tennis NIT championship in 2023. Liberty has climbed to as high as the No. 39 ranked team in the nation in 2021. The Flames have posted a combined 82-57 record.
Schwandt guided the team through a 2025 with an 11-13 record. The Flames finished as runners-up in the CUSA tournament for the second consecutive season. Joaquim Almeida and Siwanat Auytayakul earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Individual Championships with a 5-0 record at the ITA Atlantic Regional. The pair became the first Liberty representatives to secure a win at the event.
In its debut season in Conference USA in 2024, Schwandt led the Flames to finish as runners-up in CUSA with an 18-9 overall record. The Flames were invited to defend their title at the 2024 UTR Sports NIT Championship but were halted in the semifinal round.
In 2023, the Flames took down UC San Diego, No. 60 Denver and No. 69 Vanderbilt on their way to claim the first ever title in inaugural Universal Tennis NIT Championship.
Liberty won the 2022 ASUN Conference title over FGCU by a 4-2 score in the final, giving the Flames back-to-back championships. The Flames went on to face NC State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Flames captured the 2021 ASUN Conference Title, defeating Florida Gulf Coast 4-0 in the final, and advanced to the NCAA Team Championships. The team ranked No. 39 in the country at the end of the year. The Flames posted a perfect 12-0 record at home in 2021.
In the 2020 season, Liberty defeated an ACC program for the first time, topping Virginia Tech 4-3. The Flames also earned their first triumph in program history over a Big 10 foe, defeating Penn State 5-2.
In Lynchburg, Schwandt has earned two Conference Coach of the Year honors. He was named 2021 ASUN Coach of the Year after leading the Flames to their first conference title in program history. Schwandt also earned Big South Coach of the Year recognition in his first season at Liberty in 2018.
| Coaching Record | |||||
| Program Year | National Ranking | Conference Record | Overall Record | Conference Tournament | NCAA Tournament |
| Liberty | |||||
| 2025 | No. 72 | 11-13 | Runner-Up | ||
| 2024 | No. 45 | 18-9 | Runner-up | NIT Championship (Semifinal) | |
| 2023 | No. 63 | 7-1 | 17-10 | Semifinals | NIT Championship Title |
| 2022 | No. 66 | 6-2 | 13-11 | Champions | 1st Round |
| 2021 | No. 39 | 6-0 | 20-7 | Champions | 1st Round |
| 2020 | Not Ranked | 0-0 | 8-6 | N/A | N/A (season cancelled March 13 due to COVID-19 pandemic) |
| 2019 | Not Ranked | 6-1 | 12-11 | Semifinals | Nicaise Muamba NCAA Singles Championship |
| 2018 | Not Ranked | 4-3 | 12-12 | Quarterfinals | Did Not Qualify |
| Georgia Tech | |||||
| 2017 | No. 19 | 9-5 | 17-7 | Semifinals | 2nd Round |
| 2016 | No. 37 | 9-5 | 17-9 | Quarterfinals | 2nd Round |
| 2015 | No. 44 | 6-9 | 14-13 | Semifinals | 1st Round |
| 2014 | Not Ranked | 1-11 | 7-15 | 1st Round | Did Not Qualify |
| 2013 | Not Ranked | 1-10 | 8-16 | 1st Round | Did Not Qualify |
| Fresno State | |||||
| 2012 | No. 37 | 8-1 | 20-5 | Champions | 1st Round |
| 2011 | No. 37 | 8-0 | 17-9 | Champions | 2nd Round |
| Virginia | |||||
| 2010 | No. 3 | 11-0 | 39-2 | Champions | Semifinals |
| 2009 | No. 3 | 11-0 | 32-1 | Champions | Quarterfinals |
Before Liberty
Schwandt came to Liberty after serving as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech (2013-17), Fresno State (2011-12) and Virginia (2009-10). Schwandt helped his teams claim four conference titles and advance to the NCAA Men’s Team Championship seven times.
During his five seasons with Georgia Tech, the team advanced to the NCAA Men’s Team Championship three years in a row, making second round appearances in 2016 and 2017. The 2017 Yellow Jackets’ squad reached a high of No. 12 in the nation and finished the year ranked No. 19.
Schwandt helped garner some of the nation’s brightest stars with Fresno State and Georgia Tech’s recruiting classes ranked No. 12 in the country in 2012, No. 11 in 2013 and No. 14 in 2014.
Schwandt recruited and coached the 2016 and 2017 ACC Player of the Year Christopher Eubanks. The ITA All-American Eubanks was ranked No. 7 in the nation and made three straight appearances in the NCAA Singles Championship, reaching the quarterfinals in 2017. In 2023, Eubanks has reached a career high 31 ATP after reaching the Quarterfinals of Wimbledon.
Schwandt was named to the USTA Collegiate National Team staff during the summer of 2014 and 2015, coaching the top American college players on the ITF Futures pro circuit. He led Virginia standout Mitchell Frank to the 2014 Tulsa, Okla., Future title and a runner-up performance in Godfrey, Ill.
In two years at Fresno State, the Bulldogs won back-to-back WAC Championship titles and tournament championships and rose to No. 14 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings in 2012 after defeating No. 12 Stanford.
In 2011, he led Fresno State to their first WAC Tournament title since 1999 and a No. 37 national team ranking. The Bulldogs defeated No. 19 Minnesota in the first round of the NCAA Championship before falling, 4-3, to No. 14 Cal in the second round.
Schwandt served as the Volunteer Assistant Coach at Virginia during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. During Schwandt’s time at Virginia, the Cavaliers won the 2009 and 2010 ITA National Team Indoor championship, the 2009 and 2010 ACC Championship and the 2009 and 2010 NCAA doubles title.
The Cavaliers also reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Men’s Team Championship in 2009, and the semifinals in 2010. He coached under Brian Boland, the 2008 and 2016 ITA National Coach of the Year and winner of four of the last five national championships (2013, 2015-17).
Playing Career
University of Richmond A-10 Tournament Champions 2002, 2004, 2005
ATP Ranking in Singles and Doubles
Defeated Marcus Fugate (587 ATP) 6-7, 7-6, 7-6 (2008 Binghamton Challenger)
Competed in USA, South America, Central America, Canada, Mexico, India (2005-2008)
Education
University of Richmond, Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (3.4 GPA)
Fresno State, Master’s Degree in Sport Psychology (4.0 GPA)
Book review on John Wooden published in June 2012 issue of The Sport Psychologist
Personal
Schwandt is a native of Kennett Square, Pa., and is married to the former Rachel Eddy. The couple resides in Lynchburg, Va. and has two sons, Anderson and Noah and daughter, Selah.
