Benicia High School’s football program ushered in a new era with the hiring of Scott Swartz as the head coach of the varsity squad.

SCOTT SWARTZ (left) was named the new Benicia High varsity football head coach after serving several years as an assistant with the team.

Swartz, currently a physical education teacher at Benicia Middle School, was a defensive assistant coach for Benicia High’s football program from 2018-21 and previously coached for the San Francisco 49ers, Oregon State University, San Jose State University, Northern Arizona University, and other high school programs.

“I’ve lived in Benicia for eight years, this is my home and I love it here and I care about the kids,” said Swartz. “I’m a player’s coach with a strong work ethic. I try to lead by example and I want the kids to lead by example.”

Swartz takes over for Craig Holden, who served as head coach of the varsity Panthers for more than 20 years. The Panthers went 2-8 overall last season and finished on an eight-game losing streak, going winless in league play for the first time since 2003. It was Benicia’s worst season since an 0-10 campaign in 2001, and the Panthers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

“We’re on an eight-game losing streak and that’s a motivating thing for the team,” Swartz said. “The players know how to win; we just have to get back to that point.”

A coaching staff is being put together for varsity, junior varsity and freshman teams. Nearly 50 middle school athletes have expressed an interest in freshman football

“That just shows that there’s excitement,” Swartz said.

Spring practice begins today and will run through May 25.

Swartz was a quarterback at Oak Grove High School in San Jose in the early 1990s and began coaching football at the age of 22. He was an assistant coach under Dennis Erickson at Oregon State University (1999-2002) and followed Erickson to the San Francisco 49ers as the team’s Offensive Quality Control Coach (QBs) from 2004-05.     Swartz has served as head coach for McNair High (2007-09) and Foothill High (2012).

Swartz is busy getting ready for Benicia High’s season opener Aug. 31 at home against Fairfield.

“We’re behind but we’ll be OK,” Swartz said. “We’re gonna have the kids lift weights all summer and have them hold each other accountable. We’re gonna run the ball and play the same defense we did.”

Holden was Benicia’s varsity football head coach for 23 years was the school’s athletic director for 18 years. He was named the 2022 Football Honor Coach by the North Coast Section last November.

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