Tim Swartzendruber enters his 11th season as the McPherson head men's basketball coach in 2018-19. His school and career record entering the campaign is 160-154.

Since his arrival, the Bulldogs have qualified for the NAIA Division II National Tournament four times(2010-2013); the first appearances ever for McPherson College. 

In 2017-18, Swartzendruber coached one All-KCAC second team member that was also tabbed an honorable mention All-American and a second Bulldog that was named honorable mention All-KCAC and to the league's All-Freshman Team.

Off the court, one Bulldog was named a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete and to the CoSIDA Academic All-District first team for the College Division of District 3.  

The 2014-15 season could be summarized as being “close but not enough” as the ‘Dogs finished 10-21 overall; losing eight games by eight points or less.  The ‘Dogs proved they could compete with the top teams in the conference defeating Bethany at Bethany, and winning over University of Saint Mary at home; Bethany finished third in the conference and University of Saint Mary second.  Both of those teams were nationally ranked when MC took them down.  Having to replace McPherson College’s all-time leading scorer Samson Shivers, and rebounding machine Devirous Johnson proved to be difficult throughout the season but team competed with each and every opponent throughout the year.

The 2013-14 season began strong as the ‘Dogs were 4-0 before losing to the #5 ranked team in NAIA Division I. They were 6-2 heading to St. Gregory’s (Okla.) over Thanksgiving where they ran into another ranked team in NAIA Division I, St. Gregory’s, and another strong team from the Sooner Conference, USAO.  Although they lost both, MC showed they could compete with some of the top teams in NAIA Division I and appeared ready for a strong showing in the conference. Unfortunately lady luck was not on the Bulldogs side as close losses to University of Saint Mary and Sterling before Christmas left the team 1-3 in the KCAC going into the break. 
 
Throughout his career, Coach Swartzendruber has used the motto, “we want to be playing our best basketball at the end of the season.”  With that in mind, the team continued to work hard and compete but for whatever reason could not win close games. By the end of conference play, the Bulldogs were fighting to stay out of the #8 spot. The Bulldogs showed their resilience down the stretch with big wins over Bethany and at Southwestern the last week of the regular season. These wins allowed them to tie for sixth in the conference with Ottawa but due to losses to the Braves in the regular season, the ‘Dogs were the seventh seed in the tournament. 
 
Facing Sterling for the third time, the Bulldogs got off to a slow start but kept the game close throughout the first half.  In the second half, the shots would not fall and Sterling eventually won eliminating McPherson from the tournament in the first round for the first time in four years.  Although they failed to advance to the National Tournament for the first time in four years, the ‘Dogs showed tremendous fight throughout the year were able to hold their heads high despite the season ending loss.
 
The 2012-13 season saw the ‘Dogs get off to a slow start for various reasons.  Injuries, an extremely tough non-conference schedule, and other unfortunate situations saw McPherson College in last place in the KCAC after the first round of games.  Round two was better, but going into the last regular season game, the ‘Dogs had to win to guarantee a spot in the KCAC tourney.  They did and were the #8 seed, having to travel to University of Saint Mary for round one.  In one of the best wins in the Coach Swartzendruber era, MC defeated USM in OT to advance to the semi-finals at Friends University on the very next day.  The game at Friends was close throughout and came down to the final possession.  A length of court pass was deflected into the hands of Kasey Miller who calmly drained it as the buzzer sounded.  This heart-stopping victory propelled MC into the KCAC Championship game for the third consecutive year.  In the title game, the ‘Dogs were outstanding defeating Sterling College and advancing to the NAIA Division II National Tournament for the fourth consecutive year.  The tournament title was the second in a row; the only two KCAC tournament titles in McPherson College history.
 
In the National Tournament, the Bulldogs drew the #1 seed, William Penn University of Iowa.  Leading by five at half, the ‘Dogs took William Penn to the wire eventually losing 71-65.  William Penn went on to the championship game losing to #2 seed Cardinal-Stritch from Wisconsin in the final.  The final record of 15-18 was unspectacular, but MC was 8-4 in their last 12 games; playing their best basketball at the end of the season.
 
The 2011-12 season will go down as the best ever in MC history.  Finishing with a 33-4 mark, the Bulldogs captured the regular season KCAC title (first in 67 years) and won the KCAC tournament (first in school history).  At the NAIA Division II National Tournament, the Bulldogs were the #5 seed and opened with a hard fought OT win over Dakota State University from South Dakota.  In the next round, McPherson defeated Saint Thomas University of Florida advancing to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year.  In the quarterfinals, the Bulldogs defeated Dordt College of Iowa in a game that will be remembered by many as MC scored 11 points in the final 51 seconds of the game to come from behind and win.  This unbelievable victory propelled MC into the Fab Four vs Northwood University of Florida, the #1 ranked team in the nation.  Although they lost, the semi-final finish was the highest ever for MC and the highest for a KCAC team since 2003.
 
The 2011-12 season saw many individual and team records fall.  The 33 wins shattered the most wins in school history and the Bulldogs were an amazing 18-0 at home.  The Bulldogs were the #4 ranked team in the final NAIA poll and Coach Swartzendruber was named the KCAC “Coach of the Year.”
In 2010-11, unseeded McPherson made a Cinderella run into the NAIA-II tournament quarterfinal round.  The Bulldogs knocked off #6 seed Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.) in round one and Warner Pacific College (Ore.) in the round of 16 before falling to eventual national champion No. 3 ranked Cornerstone University (Mich.) in the “Elite Eight.”  The ‘Dogs finished the season second in the KCAC and lost to Sterling College in the KCAC championship game.  Their final 21-14 record established a new record for wins in a season along with total number of games played in a year.
 
Swartzendruber’s second season at McPherson (2009-10) ranked as one of the most successful seasons in men’s basketball history as he directed McPherson to a 20-9 record and a 13-5 mark in KCAC play.  The Bulldogs finished second in the KCAC regular season and received the program’s first berth into the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Tournament, where they lost to Dakota Wesleyan (N.D.) in the opening round.
 
In his first year, Coach Swartzendruber directed the Bulldogs to a 14-14 record including a sixth place finish in the KCAC after being picked last in the pre-season poll.  The Bulldogs season ended when MC fell, 85-71, to the University of Saint Mary in the quarterfinals of the KCAC post-season tournament.
 
Swartzendruber was named McPherson College’s men’s basketball coach in April 2008, succeeding Roger Trimmell, who had been the head men’s basketball coach for 27 years.   Swartzendruber had led Hesston College, a NJCAA Division II school, the previous four years compiling a 70-56 record.  His 2008 Larks had one of the most successful seasons in Hesston history finishing 23-9, ranked in the top 15 of the NJCAA, and advancing to the Region VI championship game for the second consecutive year. 
 
Prior to moving into the college coaching ranks, Coach Swartzendruber spent 22 years as a high school coach at Newton, Wellington, and Kingman High Schools.  In 2004, Swartzendruber was named the Kansas Coaches Association Coach of the Year and was also recognized by the National Federation of High School Activities as the Midwest Section Coach of the Year. 
 
A 1977 graduate of Hesston (Kan.) High School, Swartzendruber completed his Bachelor’s degree at Bethel (Kan.) in 1981 and earned a Master’s degree in sports administration from Wichita State in 1994. 
 
Tim and his wife, Susan, are the parents of five children - Tyler, Clayton, Taylor, Landon and Kinley.