Residents Of #DCWildcatNation: Bediako Swan

9/25/2020 9:00:00 AM

Throughout the fall semester, daemenwildcats.com will feature profiles on the "residents of #DCWildcatNation" to introduce you to the coaches, administrators and athletic trainers at Daemen College. These dedicated professionals work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure Daemen's place as Western New York's Premier Division II Team. Today's featured staff member is Bediako Swan, head men's soccer coach.

QUICK BIO
Bediako Swan is entering his second season leading the Daemen men's soccer program in 2020. A native of Grenada, Swan was introduced as the sixth head coach in the modern era (2000-present) of the program on February 26, 2019 following previous assistant coaching stops at both the Division I and II levels.

Swan came to Daemen after spending the 2018 season assisting the Division I program at St. Francis University (Pa.) where he worked primarily with the team's goalkeepers. Swan contributed to the Red Flash's 9-5-3 campaign that included a 5-1-2 mark in Northeast Conference play. SFU goalkeepers posted a 1.18 goals-against average and compiled six shutouts last fall under Swan's tutelage. In addition, Swan assisted with various aspects of the program including recruiting, game-planning and scouting of opponents.

Before going to SFU, Swan spent four seasons (2014-17) assisting the men's soccer program at Division II Davis and Elkins College, his alma mater. The Senators averaged 10 wins per season in his tenure, which also included a run to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship finals and an NCAA Championships berth in 2017. Swan's time at D&E also included two seasons serving in a dual role as an assistant coach with the Senators' women's soccer program.

Swan had a successful playing career at D&E where he earned a degree in political science and history in 2012. He was a two-time first-team All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection as a striker, and he earned All-Atlantic Region honors as a senior. He also played internationally as a member of the Grenada Under-20 National Team.

QUESTION & ANSWER
Q: Where did you grow up? Did you stay in one place or move around a lot?
A: I grew up in the St. Patrick Parish on the Caribbean island of Grenada.

bedi jersey — Bediako earned the right to represent his country, playing for Grenada's U-20 national team

Q: What is your fondest childhood memory?
A: Playing soccer with my friends and going on adventures with them in the neighboring hills and mountain.

Q: Who was your childhood idol and why?
A: I looked up to Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo. He was a striker who displayed skills and made soccer look fun and enjoyable.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time? What are your hobbies and interests?
A: In my free time, I enjoy watching the soccer leagues in Europe, flying my drone or using my RC car, playing soccer and finding new places to eat in Buffalo.

Q: Where did you meet your wife? Do you have any children?
A: We met during my junior year at Davis and Elkins College. We do not have any children.

bedi davis and elkins — Bediako was a star at Davis & Elkins College, twice earning All-WVIAC
honors as a striker

Q: What is your favorite season and why?
A: My favorite season is summer because I get to travel more and play soccer outdoors.

Q: What was your first job growing up?
A: I worked as a helper or laborer doing construction.

Q: When did you know you wanted to go into a career in collegiate athletics?
A: When I first started coaching club soccer, I felt the next step would be moving to the collegiate level.

Q: Who are the people you consider to be your greatest mentors?
A: My greatest mentors are my mom and dad, Lucille and Prescott Swan. Also, in soccer I've been mentored by great coaches like Aron Bassoff, Greg Myers and Frank Olszewski.

Q: What is the best advice you ever received and who did it come from?
A: It's pretty simple from my dad. He just tells me to enjoy life while I can.

Q: If you didn't work in collegiate athletics, what job do you think you'd have?
A: I think I would probably be a teacher. My degree is in history and political science so that's an area that has always interested me.

Q: Besides Daemen, what are the teams or who are the athletes you root for most?
A: I root for FC Barcelona.

Q: Where did you go on your most memorable vacation? What made it memorable?
A: Christmas in Grenada in 2018. I was with family and friends and we were able to cook and hang out over the lake. It was great.

Q: What is one place you haven't visited, but definitely plan to someday?
A: I plan to visit Camp Nou, the stadium in Barcelona where my favorite team plays.

Q: If you could have dinner with any three people, living or deceased, who would they be and why?
A: Peter Tosh; I've found his music to be influential and meaningful. Maurice Bishop; the former prime minister of Grenada. I want to ask about the plans he had for my country. And Nelson Mandela, just to pick his brain on how he was able to keep a positive mindset while in prison.

Q: What is your biggest fear?
A: Dying without living.

Q: If you were singing karaoke, what would be your go-to song?
A: We Nah Change by Lavaman.

Q: Is there anything you would like to do or accomplish in your life that you haven't done yet?
A: I'd like to be able to travel to different countries all over the world.

Q: If you were ever on Jeopardy, what is the interesting fact or experience about yourself that you'd choose to discuss with Alex Trebek?
A: I can't swim and even though the beach is 10 minutes from my childhood home, I don't like going to the beach.

Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

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