A 20-year coaching veteran, including 13 years on the NCAA Division I level, Julian Swartz was named an assistant coach on Josh Pastner’s staff in August of 2018.
Swartz, 42, is responsible for on-court development of Tech players and focuses his efforts on the Yellow Jackets’ defensive schemes as well as handle recruiting responsibilities. He helped guide Tech’s defense to a national ranking of No. 37 in efficiency in 2018-19 and No. 17 in 2019-20, according to KenPom.com, and the Yellow Jackets also ranked among the top 15 in effective field goal percentage and three-point defense. In 2020-21, Tech used its trademark defenses in a completely different way, becoming the top team in the ACC and one of the best in the nation in forcing turnovers and steals to boost its offense.
Swartz’s recruiting efforts have been central to the Jackets’ last two recruiting classes, and he has been ranked No. 6 among college basketball recruiters by 247Sports. Tech’s 2021 class of guards Dallan “Deebo” Coleman and Miles Kelly and forward Jalon Moore was ranked the 15th-best in the nation.
He served his first two years at Tech as director of recruiting and compliance, which included serving as the staff liaison with compliance, coordinating on-campus recruiting operations and summer camps. He retained many of those duties during the 2017-18 season even after being named interim assistant coach to fill a vacancy on the coaching staff.
Full Name: Julian MacKenzie Swartz | Birthdate: April 18, 1980 in Waukesha, Wis.
Family: single | Joined Tech Staff: May, 2016
Education: Master’s degree in School Counseling from Marquette in 2008; Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Carroll College in 2005
Playing Experience: Began his college career at the University of Wisconsin and was a member of the Badgers’ 2000 Final Four team
Professional Experience: Assistant coach at Georgia Tech (2018-present); Director of recruiting and compliance at Georgia Tech (2016-18); Served as assistant director of operations, director of player development and interim assistant coach during four years at Memphis (2012-16); Counselor in the West Allis/West Milwaukee school district (2009-12); Men’s basketball intern at Indiana (2008); Graduate assistant at Marquette (2005-08); Varsity assistant coach at Waukesha South High School (2003-05, 2009-11)
Honors/Accomplishments: Associated Press Wisconsin High School Player of the Year (1999); Scored 2,123 points in his high school career and made the all-state team in Wisconsin three times; Marquette University Alumni Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Achievement Award (2016); Named to Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2020 for his playing career; Named the No. 6 college basketball recruiter in the United States by 247Sports
A 20-year coaching veteran, including 13 years on the NCAA Division I level, Julian Swartz was named an assistant coach on Josh Pastner’s staff in August of 2018.
Swartz, 42, is responsible for on-court development of Tech players and focuses his efforts on the Yellow Jackets’ defensive schemes as well as handle recruiting responsibilities. He helped guide Tech’s defense to a national ranking of No. 37 in efficiency in 2018-19 and No. 17 in 2019-20, according to KenPom.com, and the Yellow Jackets also ranked among the top 15 in effective field goal percentage and three-point defense. In 2020-21, Tech used its trademark defenses in a completely different way, becoming the top team in the ACC and one of the best in the nation in forcing turnovers and steals to boost its offense.
Swartz’s recruiting efforts have been central to the Jackets’ last two recruiting classes, and he has been ranked No. 6 among college basketball recruiters by 247Sports. Tech’s 2021 class of guards Dallan “Deebo” Coleman and Miles Kelly and forward Jalon Moore was ranked the 15th-best in the nation.
“Julian has been an outstanding member of my staff going back to Memphis, and did a terrific job when given the chance to coach while also handling his off-court duties,” said Pastner. “He is a high-energy individual and a great fit for Georgia Tech. He does an excellent job with our player development, and has the ability to evaluate and recruit at the level we need to continue to build this program.”
One of two members of head coach Pastner’s staff at Memphis to follow him to Georgia Tech, Swartz came to The Flats in May, 2016, after four years with Pastner at Memphis, where he served stints as assistant director of operations, director of player development and interim assistant coach.
He served his first two years at Tech as director of recruiting and compliance, which included serving as the staff liaison with compliance, coordinating on-campus recruiting operations and summer camps. He retained many of those duties during the 2017-18 season even after being named interim assistant coach to fill a vacancy on the coaching staff.
“I am extremely grateful to Coach Pastner, whom I’ve had the pleasure working for the last six years, and our administration for this tremendous opportunity,” said Swartz. “There is simply no better place than Georgia Tech – Atlanta, academics and the ACC. I am honored and excited to invest all my energy and enthusiasm to the culture and standards of our program while pursuing championship excellence in all we do.”
During his time at Memphis, the Tigers compiled a 92-44 overall record while transitioning to the American Athletic Conference from Conference USA.
Prior to Memphis, Swartz spent three years as a graduate assistant at Marquette (2005-08) with head coach Tom Crean and one as an intern at Indiana (2008). Among his duties at Marquette were assisting in the areas of video, scouting reports, statistics, student-athletes’ academic progress, on-campus recruiting visits and coordinating summer camps. He also assisted in player development, working with All-Big East honorees Lazar Hayward, Dominic James, Wesley Matthews, Jerel McNeal and Steve Novak. Novak, Matthews, McNeal, and Hayward have all played in the NBA. In those three seasons, the Golden Eagles posted a 69-31 overall record and a 31-19 Big East Conference mark and earned three NCAA Tournament berths.
From 2009-12, he served as a counselor in the West Allis/West Milwaukee school district, counseling kids and teaching character education, while also serving as an assistant coach for the Waukesha South High School varsity hoops squad (2003-05, 2009-11) along with coaching youth basketball (2009-12).
A native of Waukesha, Wis., Swartz graduated from Carroll College in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He earned his master’s degree in school counseling in 2008 from Marquette, which made him the recipient of the 2016 Marquette University Alumni Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology Achievement Award.
A successful high school player, Swartz scored 2,123 points in his career, was a first-team all-state selection three times and was named the 1999 Associated Press Wisconsin High School Player of the Year along with being named academic all-state. He began his collegiate playing career at the University of Wisconsin in 1999-2000 and was a member of the Badgers squad that advanced to the 2000 NCAA Final Four. In 2020, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
