Former Notre Dame men's basketball captain Harold Swanagan has been named coordinator of student welfare and development at Notre Dame, the University announced Wednesday.
Swanagan, who served as an intern with the basketball team's strength and conditioning program during the 2004-05 school year, accepted the new position Friday.
He will work directly with Charmelle Green, director of the student-athlete development and welfare program, to get athletes involved in community service and rewarded for academic success, among other goals.
"To me it's like coaching, but it's coaching kids on life," Swanagan said Wednesday night.
The Student Development program focuses on five areas in providing a balanced experience for student-athletes at Notre Dame: academic excellence, athletic success, career preparation, community involvement and personal development.
It teaches skills that land former Division-I athletes like Swanagan, a former Big East Academic All-Star, in jobs outside the realm of a specific sport.
"I'll be teaching athletes that there's something outside the arena," he said.
Swanagan played forward for the Irish from 1998-2002 and averaged 6.2 points and 4.6 rebounds during his career.
