SAINT LEO, Fla. – Former Saint Leo University coach and athletics administrator John Swart passed away May 1, 2019. Swart served as an assistant athletic director, assistant men's basketball coach, junior varsity baseball coach, head men's soccer coach, head women's basketball coach, NCAA compliance officer and director of intramurals department during his over 40-year career at Saint Leo.
 
John was elected to the Saint Leo University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000 following a remarkable career. He is a member of three Hall of Fames including Saint Leo, Lincoln College and Illinois State University.
 
"John was one of the pioneers for Saint Leo athletics," said Saint Leo University Vice President and Director of Athletics Francis X. Reidy. "When I arrived in 1988, he was really good to me and provided insight into coaching and NCAA compliance. He served Saint Leo well in many different positions through the years, was the ultimate professional and remained a loyal fan during his retirement days. They don't make them like John Swart anymore, and that is too bad. He will be missed."
 
"We offer our condolences to his wife Donna, daughter Dione and the entire family for their tremendous loss."
 
Below is John Swart's obituary published in the Herald News for Lincoln and Logan County in Illinois detailing his great journey before, during and after his time at Saint Leo.
 
John was born on March 1, 1937, in Lincoln, Ill., to the late Harm Gerhart and Grace Mammen Swart.  John and his wife, Donna, moved to San Antonio, Fla. in 1968.  John graduated from Hartsburg-Emden High School, Lincoln College, and Illinois State University.
 
While attending school, John was a great basketball player achieving many awards.  At his high school, John held the career scoring record for 57 years. While attending Lincoln College, John was ranked in the top 20 scorers in the nation, lettered in basketball and baseball, member of the honor society, and was honored as the student most representing ideals of Abraham Lincoln.
 
At Illinois State University, he also lettered in basketball and baseball, was an Academic All-Star Award winner and held the single game rebound record. John's career started as a teacher at Niantic-Harristown High School as a teacher and head basketball coach in Illinois from from 1962-1964 where he then moved back to Lincoln to teach and become the head basketball coach at Lincoln College from 1964-1968.
 
In August of 1968, San Antonio became his permanent residence as he became a professor of Physical Education and Sports Management at Saint Leo College. John was a professor at Saint Leo for 40 years and continued as an adjunct professor for three more years. He was the first coordinator of the Physical Education major and the Designed Concepts of Wellness Programs at Saint Leo. He was also the President of the Florida Intercollegiate Soccer Coaches Association and the Chair of the Sunshine State Conference Women's Basketball Coaches Committee.
 
He served as the men's soccer head coach for 12 seasons (1971-82) while acting as the head coach of the women's basketball program for nine (1983-92).
 
John retired from Saint Leo in 2008 and was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Dade City.
 
John's parents preceded him in death along with his son, Russell Gerhart Swart and one brother-in-law, Larry Yentes. 
 
His wife, Donna E. Swart survives him along with his daughter Dionne Swart Yargus, two grandchildren, Payton Celeste Yargus and Keyton John Yargus, one sister Phyllis Sue Yentes, two sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Barbra and Duane Wibben and Koann and Richard Chapman, all of Illinois, and a host of nieces and nephews.
 
Services will be held May 18, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church of Dade City with a reception to follow.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First United Methodist Church.