Port grad eyes college national title

A Port Washington High School graduate will coach for a college football national title on Monday.

Aaron Schwanz, a member of the Port High class of 2003, will be on the sideline for Louisiana State University as a defensive analyst when the No. 1-ranked Tigers take on defending champion Clemson in New Orleans.

Schwanz helps devise the defensive game plan and make in-game adjustments.

LSU earned a spot in the title game after demolishing Oklahoma, 63-28, in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 28.

The Tigers’ defense held Jalen Hurts, who finished a distant second to LSU’s Joe Burrow in voting for the Heisman Trophy, to 15-for-31 passing for 217 yards and an interception.

The game was over by halftime with the score at 49-14.

The Sooners were held to less than 330 yards of offense for the game. The Tigers racked up nearly 700 yards.

“My biggest takeaway from the game is just the power of preparation. Leading up to the game, our players put together our two strongest weeks of preparation. They came in excited and focused every day and because of that our team was able to play with a tremendous amount of confidence in the game,” Schwanz said in an email on Dec. 30.

“At this time of year, you want to be playing your best football and as of right now I feel strongly that we are still an ascending football team who enjoys competing together as a team.”

He looks forward to a rare opportunity on Monday.

“I have always wanted to be a part of a national championship team and to get the opportunity to compete for one with this team, this staff, in Louisiana is special,” Schwanz said.

Regardless of the result, the Peach Bowl itself will be etched into Schwanz’ memory.

“The Peach Bowl staff was first class all week. To be able to have my family there and have our team perform the way they did on such a big stage was something I will never forget,” he said.

Schwanz, who is married and has three young children, has been an assistant coach for Southeast Louisiana in Hammond, Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, Texas, and the University of Texas-El Paso. He played safety and earned a special education degree at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and served as a graduate assistant with UW-Madison.

At Port High, Schwanz played football for his uncle Tim Greisch, who teaches social studies.