California State University Northridge Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Director of Athletics
- Phone:
- 3208
Ryan Swartwood was named CSUN's Director of Athletics on Oct. 1, 2025, returning to Northridge after serving as Director of Athletics at the University of Alaska Anchorage since 2021.
Swartwood's appointment marks a homecoming. He previously served at CSUN from 2013 to 2018, first as Assistant Athletics Director for Administration, then as Associate Athletics Director for Administration, and later as Interim Director of Athletics.
"We are excited to welcome Ryan back to lead CSUN Athletics and support our outstanding student-athletes," said CSUN President Erika D. Beck. "Ryan is dedicated to CSUN's institutional values, the well-being of our student-athletes, and continuing to elevate an athletics program that strengthens our Matador community. We look forward to his leadership and what's ahead for CSUN Athletics."
Swartwood became the 10th Director of Athletics in the 67-year history of Matador Athletics.
"I'm thrilled to be coming back to CSUN," Swartwood said. "I see great promise across the entire Athletics Department, and I'm looking forward to working with our leadership team, head coaches and staff to support our student-athletes and continue building a culture of excellence.
"Thank you to the university community, the search committee and President Erika Beck for leading such a thoughtful and professional search. The university's commitment to Athletics was inspiring and played a significant role in my decision to return."
Swartwood rejoined CSUN after more than six years at Alaska Anchorage, where he was hired as Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs in 2019 before being promoted to Director of Athletics in 2021. Under his leadership, the Seawolves enjoyed sustained competitive and academic success, producing 83 All-Americans, 47 individual conference champions, four individual national champions, four conference team championships, 21 Academic All-Americans and four NCAA Elite 90 Award recipients. The department also maintained a 3.4 cumulative grade-point average, while the women's gymnastics team led the nation in team GPA in 2025.
Beyond competitive success, Swartwood helped strengthen the department's financial and corporate partnerships by negotiating an extension of the Alaska Airlines arena naming rights agreement and securing a department-wide partnership with Nike.
During his first tenure at CSUN, Swartwood oversaw contract administration, athletics facilities, sports medicine and sports performance while serving as the sport administrator for several programs. As a member of the Athletics senior leadership team, he played a key role in the department's daily operations and strategic planning.
Before joining CSUN in 2013, Swartwood spent three years in the athletics compliance office at the University of Oklahoma. He also gained legal and collegiate athletics experience through internships with the Oakland Raiders, where he worked in the Office of the General Counsel, and at California State University, Stanislaus, where he assisted with the National Letter of Intent program and NCAA Coaches Certification Program.
Swartwood earned a bachelor's degree in history from San Diego State University, a master's degree in adult and higher education from the University of Oklahoma, and a Juris Doctor from Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. While attending law school, he served as an Associate Editor of the Arizona State Law Journal and gained legal experience with Curtis & Arata Professional Law Corporation.
Swartwood and his wife, Chio, have two sons, Sammy and Mikey.
