4-State Sportscaster of Year Swain Dies at 79
Warren Swain (in red), receiving his 2001 Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year award from Bob Costas at the 2002 NSSA Awards in Salisbury, NC. (NSMA/NSSA file photo)
Several sources have informed NSMA that Warren Swain, one of three people to win NSMA (NSSA) State Sportscaster of the Year awards in four states, has died at 79, in Sarasota, Florida.
The others who won in four different states were:
- Charlie McAlexander — Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee
- Ray Scott — Florida, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin
According to former Drake University sports information director Mike Mahon, Swain was a native of Pisgah, Iowa, and graduated from Drake University. He announced both Creighton basketball and Iowa State basketball and football for KMA Radio in Shenandoah before the schools held exclusive radio rights.
Swain's broadcasting career has spanned over 40 seasons at eight universities. :
- Creighton, Iowa State (1972-80)
- Oregon Ducks (1980-83)
- Drake Bulldogs (1983–85) (2004-07)
- Virginia Cavaliers (1986–96)
- Nebraska Cornhuskers (1996–2003)
- Ohio Bobcats (2007-08)
- South Dakota Coyotes (2008-11)
His total of six Sportscaster of the Year Awards came in 1979 (Iowa - KMA, Shenandoah), 1981 (Oregon - KUGN, Eugene), 1986, 1990, and 1991 (Virginia - WINA, Charlottesville), and 200 (Nebraska - Pinnacle Sports Productions, Geneva).
Swain called Husker football games from 1996 to 2002, and during that time, he called some historic games in Nebraska history. He announced the 1997 Orange Bowl, in which the Huskers won the national championship. At Nebraska, he broadcast seven bowl games, including two Orange Bowls, one Rose Bowl, and one Fiesta Bowl.