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Football
Swan, Colton
Colton Swan
- Title:
- Linebackers
Linebackers
7th Year
Colton Swan is in his seventh season as Utah’s linebackers coach in 2025. He joined the Utes' staff for the 2019 campaign, following 15 years at Weber State where he was the longest-tenured coach on the Wildcats' football staff.
Under Swan’s tutelage, All-American linebacker Devin Lloyd became the highest-drafted linebacker in program history when Jacksonville selected Lloyd in Round 1 (27th overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft. Three other Swan proteges have landed free agent signings in Francis Bernard, Mohamoud Diabate and Nephi Sewell. His players have also earned seven First Team All-Conference awards since Swan’s arrival.
Swan’s group helped Utah post a top-19 national ranking in pass efficiency defense during the 2024 season. It was part of a larger defensive effort that saw the team rank third in the Big 12 both in total defense and points allowed per game, with Lander Barton and Karene Reid ranking as two of the Utes’ top-three tacklers. The Utes had an opponent third-down conversion rate of 27.4%, the third straight season the team led its conference in third-down defense and second straight year ranking top-eight in FBS.
The 2023 Utes battled the injury bug at virtually every position, but Swan’s group and the entire team embraced the “next man up” mentality on the way to Utah’s 10th straight winning season and an appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Swan entered 2022 having to replace a set of NFL linebackers with a completely new starting lineup. Nevertheless, his group carried on its reputation as the generals of the Utah defense, helping the Utes capture their second straight Pac-12 Championship and Rose Bowl appearance.
The team successes the Utes enjoyed in 2022 were largely similar to ‘21, with the veterans and rookies alike embodying the defense’s ‘R.S.N.B.’ identity—relentless, smart, nasty, ballhawks—propelling the squad to the Pac-12 title and first Rose Bowl in program history.
Even in a shortened season, it was a similar showing for Swan's linebackers in 2020, playing a key role as Utah led the Pac-12 and ranked 11th in the FBS in rushing defense, and allowed just 3.8 yards per carry (second in the Pac-12).
In his first season with the Utes in 2019, Swan tutored a record-setting unit that ranked No. 2 in the FBS in total defense, on the way to the Pac-12 South Division title.
Prior to the Utes, Swan coached 15 seasons under five head coaches at Weber State. He worked with the linebackers for seven years—the last two seasons as inside linebackers coach (2017-18). He served as the Wildcats’ co-defensive coordinator for three seasons from 2009-11 and was the special teams coordinator for the final five years (co-coordinator in 2014). Swan also coached the safeties (2006-08) and tight ends (2014-16).
Weber State won back-to-back Big Sky championships for the first time in school history in 2017-18. The Wildcats made the FCS playoffs in each of his final three seasons—advancing to the quarterfinals in 2017 and 2018.
In 2016, Swan helped lead Weber State to a 7-5 record, a third-place finish in the Big Sky Conference and WSU’s first trip to the FCS Playoffs in seven years. The Wildcats were 10th in the nation in net punting and 12th in kickoff returns that season. In 2015, the Wildcats finished 6-5 for their first winning season in five years and led the Big Sky in kickoff coverage.
Playing Career
Swan was a second-team All-Big Sky Conference linebacker at Weber State as a senior in 2003 when he recorded 109 total tackles, three forced fumbles and an interception. He was honorable mention all-conference in 2002 and led the Wildcats with 89 total tackles. Swan initially came to Weber State on a rodeo scholarship, but walked on to the football team and was awarded a football scholarship the next year. He made the Big Sky Academic All-Conference team three seasons.
Personal
Swan graduated from Weber State in 2004 with a Bachelor’s in health promotion, adding a Master’s in education in 2006 at Weber State. The Jerome, Idaho, native was born Oct. 31, 1980. He and his wife, Sarah, have two children: Doc and Liv.
Coaching Experience
Postseason Games
7th Year
Colton Swan is in his seventh season as Utah’s linebackers coach in 2025. He joined the Utes' staff for the 2019 campaign, following 15 years at Weber State where he was the longest-tenured coach on the Wildcats' football staff.
Under Swan’s tutelage, All-American linebacker Devin Lloyd became the highest-drafted linebacker in program history when Jacksonville selected Lloyd in Round 1 (27th overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft. Three other Swan proteges have landed free agent signings in Francis Bernard, Mohamoud Diabate and Nephi Sewell. His players have also earned seven First Team All-Conference awards since Swan’s arrival.
Swan’s group helped Utah post a top-19 national ranking in pass efficiency defense during the 2024 season. It was part of a larger defensive effort that saw the team rank third in the Big 12 both in total defense and points allowed per game, with Lander Barton and Karene Reid ranking as two of the Utes’ top-three tacklers. The Utes had an opponent third-down conversion rate of 27.4%, the third straight season the team led its conference in third-down defense and second straight year ranking top-eight in FBS.
The 2023 Utes battled the injury bug at virtually every position, but Swan’s group and the entire team embraced the “next man up” mentality on the way to Utah’s 10th straight winning season and an appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl.
- Utah once again put on one of the nation’s top defensive performances, averaging 307.2 total yards allowed per game; it ranked second in the Pac-12 and No. 13 in the country. Seven Utah opponents were held to 14 points or fewer, the most since 2019 with the season average (19.3 points allowed per game) ranking top-19 in FBS.
- The Utes allowed 82.8 rushing yards per game, the fourth-best in FBS and lowest tally for the team since 2019. It also extended Utah’s streak to six straight seasons of having a top-two ground attack in the league. Per carry, the defense ranked sixth among Power Conference programs with 3.1-yard average.
- Reid and transfer Levani Damuni led the room down the stretch of the season, with Reid pulling in All-Conference Second Team and Damuni leading the team in total tackles. Damuni finished with 9.5 third-down stops, tying for the team lead and helping the Utes boast the league’s best third-down defense (29.5%).
Swan entered 2022 having to replace a set of NFL linebackers with a completely new starting lineup. Nevertheless, his group carried on its reputation as the generals of the Utah defense, helping the Utes capture their second straight Pac-12 Championship and Rose Bowl appearance.
- Once again the Utes were difficult for opponents to solve on the ground, placing 18th nationally in rushing defense at 111.4 yards per game. It was aided by seven games with opponents being held under 100 rushing yards.
- The linebacker room contributed 32.5 of Utah’s 90 tackles for loss; the team total was a Pac-12 best and ranked ninth in program history for a single season. Three of the team’s top-four TFL producers were linebackers, including Diabate (13.5), Reid (9.5) and Barton (8.0).
- Swan helped the rookie Barton emerge as of the top up-and-coming linebackers in the Pac-12, leading the league’s freshmen with 4.5 sacks on the way to Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and CFN Freshman All-America Second Team.
- Diabate, who transferred from Florida for his final collegiate season, accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl. Despite missing two games due to injury, Diabate still led the team in TFL and ranked top-six in sacks among Pac-12 linebackers.
- Reid, who moved into a starting role for his sophomore season, earned praise as an All-Conference selection from both the AP (First Team) and Pac-12 coaches (Second Team).
The team successes the Utes enjoyed in 2022 were largely similar to ‘21, with the veterans and rookies alike embodying the defense’s ‘R.S.N.B.’ identity—relentless, smart, nasty, ballhawks—propelling the squad to the Pac-12 title and first Rose Bowl in program history.
- Utah’s 2021 rushing defense (119.4 yards per game) led the Pac-12 for the fourth straight season and ranked 19th in the FBS. The Utes allowed just 3.7 yards per carry, second-best in the conference.
- Devin Lloyd finished a decorated Utah career as the 10th consensus All-American in program history. The Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year and two-time Butkus Award finalist graded out at 90-plus three separate times in 2021 by PFF, which led all linebackers nationally. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 27th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft—the highest-drafted linebacker all-time at Utah.
- Fellow linebacker Nephi Sewell, whom Swan converted from safety, ranked second on the team in total tackles with 89 (7.5 TFL), adding one interception and a forced fumble. Sewell signed a free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints, finishing his career as a two-time All-Pac-12 pick.
Even in a shortened season, it was a similar showing for Swan's linebackers in 2020, playing a key role as Utah led the Pac-12 and ranked 11th in the FBS in rushing defense, and allowed just 3.8 yards per carry (second in the Pac-12).
- Lloyd was a first-team All-Pac-12 choice, second-team All-America (Sporting News) and one of five finalists for the Butkus Award as a junior, while Sewell was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 choice under Swan's tutelage. Sewell led the team in takeaways (2 INT, 2 FR) and finished second on the team in tackles behind Lloyd.
- Utah ranked second in the Pac-12 in total defense (365 yards per game) with Lloyd tying for second in the nation in tackles-for-loss per game (2.0), eighth in solo tackles per game (8.8) and fifth in the Pac-12 in total tackles per game (9.6).
In his first season with the Utes in 2019, Swan tutored a record-setting unit that ranked No. 2 in the FBS in total defense, on the way to the Pac-12 South Division title.
- Utah’s defense held six opponents to seven points or fewer, the most by an FBS team since 2006. The Utes led the Pac-12 in total defense, passing defense, rushing defense, scoring defense, red zone defense, first downs allowed and third-down defense, and recorded the best statistical season by a conference team in the Pac-12 era in three categories: total yards (269.2), rushing yards (81.8) and points allowed (15.0).
- Under Swan's tutelage, senior Francis Bernard was named first-team All-Pac-12 while Lloyd earned honorable mention as a sophomore, each in his first year as a full-time starting linebacker. Lloyd led the Utes' record-setting defense in tackles (91), followed closely behind by Bernard (85). Lloyd ranked second on the team in sacks (6.5) and the pair recorded three interceptions between them, with each returning an interception 58 yards or longer for a touchdown.
- Bernard was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.
Prior to the Utes, Swan coached 15 seasons under five head coaches at Weber State. He worked with the linebackers for seven years—the last two seasons as inside linebackers coach (2017-18). He served as the Wildcats’ co-defensive coordinator for three seasons from 2009-11 and was the special teams coordinator for the final five years (co-coordinator in 2014). Swan also coached the safeties (2006-08) and tight ends (2014-16).
- Swan coached eight All-Americans at Weber State, including two-time selections LeGrand Toia (linebacker), Rashid Shaheed (kick returner) and Brady May (special teams).
- Other All-America honorees under Swan as either a position coach or coordinator were safety Beau Hadley (2008), cornerback Josh Morris (2009), tight end Andrew Vollert (2016), kicker Trey Tuttle (2017) and punt returner Xequille Harry (2017). Tuttle was named a sophomore All-American in 2018.
- Swan’s players also accumulated 15 first-team All-Big Sky honors during his time at the school.
Weber State won back-to-back Big Sky championships for the first time in school history in 2017-18. The Wildcats made the FCS playoffs in each of his final three seasons—advancing to the quarterfinals in 2017 and 2018.
- The 2017 Wildcats won a school-record 11 games, including two FCS playoff games, and finished with a No. 5 national ranking. The 2018 team ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation—the best ranking in school history—and earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the FCS Playoffs before finishing with a 10-3 record.
- One of the best defensive teams in the country over the 2017-18 seasons, the Wildcats ranked in the top 10 in interceptions, turnovers gained and red zone defense in 2017, while leading the Big Sky Conference in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, interceptions, pass efficiency defense, red zone defense and kickoff returns.
- In 2018, WSU led the Big Sky in scoring defense, rushing defense, total defense, sacks, tackles for loss, kickoff returns and punt return defense among others. Weber was No. 4 in the country in kickoff returns in 2018.
In 2016, Swan helped lead Weber State to a 7-5 record, a third-place finish in the Big Sky Conference and WSU’s first trip to the FCS Playoffs in seven years. The Wildcats were 10th in the nation in net punting and 12th in kickoff returns that season. In 2015, the Wildcats finished 6-5 for their first winning season in five years and led the Big Sky in kickoff coverage.
Playing Career
Swan was a second-team All-Big Sky Conference linebacker at Weber State as a senior in 2003 when he recorded 109 total tackles, three forced fumbles and an interception. He was honorable mention all-conference in 2002 and led the Wildcats with 89 total tackles. Swan initially came to Weber State on a rodeo scholarship, but walked on to the football team and was awarded a football scholarship the next year. He made the Big Sky Academic All-Conference team three seasons.
Personal
Swan graduated from Weber State in 2004 with a Bachelor’s in health promotion, adding a Master’s in education in 2006 at Weber State. The Jerome, Idaho, native was born Oct. 31, 1980. He and his wife, Sarah, have two children: Doc and Liv.
Coaching Experience
| 2019- | Utah |
| Linebackers | |
| 2004-18 | Weber State |
| 2017-18 | Special Teams Coordinator |
| Inside Linebackers | |
| 2015-16 | Special Teams Coordinator |
| Tight Ends | |
| 2014 | Co-Special Teams Coordinator |
| Tight Ends | |
| 2012-13 | Linebackers |
| 2009-11 | Co-Defensive Coordinator |
| Linebackers | |
| 2006-08 | Safeties |
| 2004-05 | Graduate Assistant |
| Defense |
Postseason Games
| 2023 | Las Vegas Bowl |
| 2022 | Rose Bowl Game |
| 2021 | Rose Bowl Game |
| 2019 | Alamo Bowl |
| 2018 | FCS Quarterfinals |
| 2017 | FCS Quarterfinals |
| 2016 | FCS First Round |
| 2009 | FCS First Round |
| 2008 | FCS Quarterfinals |
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