Randy Dean Swain was born to Francis Alexander (Alex) and Gwen Zola (Simmons) Swain in Altus, OK on October 29, 1957 and has two brothers Jim and Glen. Randy is the grandson of the late Earl and Medy Swain who owned Swain’s Pet Shop on North Forest Street in Altus, Oklahoma. The Swain’s moved to Olustee, OK where Randy completed his education at Olustee Public Schools participating in the only two sports Olustee had at the time for boys, which were baseball and basketball.

Randy competed in summer league baseball at Olustee, all the years he was eligible to play, and was a member of the 1964 team that went to the State Tournament in Chandler, OK, losing in the first round to Moore, OK. Randy also, as a youth, participated in the FCA basketball program Royal Ambassador’s at Olustee First Baptist Church where he participated on the Olustee team that went to the Church State Tournament in Henrietta, OK and lost their first game against a larger church. This run of success inspired Randy to play and participate in every sport that he could. In the summer of 1975 Randy participated with the Altus American Legion team AA, which was Coached by Nick Schorrenberg and help selected by Eddie Fisher of Altus.

Randy had a successful career at Olustee High School, especially in baseball, which was his favorite sport. In 1976 Randy received a letter asking him to attend a baseball tryout camp run by the San Francisco Giants and other teams including the Astros, Rangers, Cardinals and Phillies would also be participating in the tryout camp. The camp was in Tucson, Az and at the time Randy was a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guards and was planning to attend the camp on donations collected within the members of the Altus National Guard Unit. While participating in the summer league action Randy tore ligaments in his foot and was unable to attend the camp.

Randy was a member trying for a scholarship under Coach Glen Royal at Western Oklahoma State College Pioneers. When this workout for one semester did not work Randy got out of college and started to work for a living. Randy participated for 10 years in the Slow Pitch Industrial league in Altus, as well as, church league enjoying himself very much. Randy tried his hand at a fast pitch league at Altus Air Force Base with Bill Lighty and was successful for one year. Randy was on slow pitch tournament teams with different coaches or managers such as Bob and Jim Hawkins, Ted Deford, Lupe Sanchez and Bill Lighty. Randy played on the Altus National Guard team that won the National Guard Slow Pitch Championship at Ft. Chaffee, AR.

Randy tried his hand also at the Altus Adult Basketball League for one year and the Soft Tackle Football league, which really never got off the ground. Years later Randy turned to Altus Speedway for his next challenge in life. In his rookie season at the age of 43 at Altus Speedway Randy finished 6th out of 46 different drivers and then finished 10th the year after. Randy also raced at Hill Country Speedway in Mountain Home, TX finishing 4th and finishing 11th at Gallup Motor Speedway in Gallup, New Mexico. The expenses of racing forced Randy out of racing.

While attending Cameron University Randy was a volunteer Coach for Douglas Elementary in Lawton, OK and at one time Randy started a Men’s Softball team in Olustee, OK called the “Country Boys” sponsored by Larry Tiegan of a then local Sporting Goods Store. Randy also at different times got together tournaments team to play sponsored by Howard Smith Mazda of Altus, OK.

In 1986 Randy graduated from Western Oklahoma State College and in 1988 graduated from Cameron University with a B.S. degree in Health and Drivers Education to become a teacher and coach. Randy was awarded as a top Health and Physical Education major by being placed in the National Yearbook for Outstanding Students in 1988. Randy applied for jobs all over Oklahoma, but to no avail. Randy turned to Texas where he finally started his teaching and coaching career. Randy’s teaching and coaching career covered 20 years in different areas of Texas and Arizona.

From 1988 to 1999: Randy taught and coached in Laredo, Texas with United I.S.D., a 5A school system, at United and Alexander High Schools. All 11 years Randy taught Physical Education and coached football, baseball, boys basketball and track. In football Randy’s teams made the playoffs 9 out of 11 years, baseball 9 out of 11 years, and basketball 1 out of 11. Randy was a coaching staff member of the first football team to ever win a high school football playoff game in the history of the city of Laredo, TX with Alexander a making history reaching the state quarterfinals finally losing to Harligen 31-27. In baseball Randy was a coach of the 1996 Alexander Bulldog baseball team that reached the State Tournament in Austin, TX losing to Duncanville 2-0. This was the first time in 57 years that a Laredo, TX team had reached the State Tournament. The Bulldogs played Victoria Stroman in the Astrodome in a playoff game that playoff season. During his tenure in Laredo Randy volunteered at the Border Olympics and Special Olympics. This was very rewarding. Randy coached players that have gone on to play at Harvard, Brown, Texas, Laredo Community College, Laredo State University, Blinn Junior College, New Mexico Highlands, Eastern New Mexico, Texas A&I, TCU, a few who have opted out of college to go to minor league farm systems and Mexican Pro Baseball.

From 1999 to 2002: Randy taught and Coached in Tulia, Texas with Tulia I.S.D.’ a 3A school system. There 3 years Randy coached football, baseball and boys basketball, while teaching Health and Driver Education. In 3 years Randy’s luck at making the playoffs in football was zero, in basketball his team made the playoffs 2 out of 3 years, and in baseball they made the playoffs 1 out of 3 years. The lone baseball playoff appearance was the first playoff trip for the Hornets in 7 years losing to Seminole, TX 5 to 2. Randy coached players who went on to play at Texas Tech, Abilene Christian University, Air Force Academy, West Texas State and Texas A & M.

From 2002 to 2004: Randy taught and coached at Pinon, Arizona with Pinon I.S.D. #4 for two years a 2A school system. Randy coached football, head baseball and boys basketball at Pinon, while teaching Physical Education. In two years at Pinon Randy did not make the playoffs in football, however they went 2 for 2 in basketball and 2 for 2 in baseball. In baseball Randy inherited a baseball team that was in shambles, losing for 3 ½ years to the run rule. Randy’s first year showed great improvement for a team that had gone winless for over 3 ½ years, making the playoffs and then losing their first playoff game. The second year was more amazing than the first. Randy had 36 players come try out for the team, the most to ever to try out. The team went to the playoffs a second straight year and had a 4 to 2 lead in the bottom of the 7th inning in the Regional Semi Finals and lost 5 to 4, a heart breaking loss. In basketball the Eagles made it to the State Tournament in Phoenix losing to Faith Christian Academy by 10 points. Randy had two players to go on to play in college from Pinon.

From 2004 to 2007: Randy taught and coached at Uvalde, Texas with Uvalde C.I.S.D., a 4A school. At Uvalde Randy coached baseball and boys basketball one year and the next two years Randy coached girls basketball and softball, while teaching Physical Education. In baseball Randy was a member of the baseball coaching staff that made the playoffs for the first time in 10 years, however the boys basketball team did not make the playoffs. In girls basketball he helped the team make the playoffs both years, the first time the girls had made the playoffs in 8 years losing their first round game each year. In softball the first year the team made the playoffs and lost in the quarter finals and the next year the team went to the Regional Semi Finals losing to Dripping Springs 3 to 1 and 3 to 2. Randy had players go on to play at Texas A&M, Ohio State, Claredon Junior College, Howard Payne, Baylor, Barton Community College, St. Mary’s, TX, Sul Ross, and Southwest Texas Junior College.

From 2007 to 2008: Randy taught and coached at Louise, Texas with Louise I.S.D. a 1A school system. At Louise Randy taught Health, Driver Education and World Geography while hired to coach volleyball, girls basketball and softball. Randy helped the Lady Hornets to a deep playoff drive in volleyball. This was the only playoff appearance in school history. Randy then became ill and had to retire after the 2008 school year and has been unable to return to work. Randy did not get to coach the basketball or softball teams as hired to do because of his health.

Randy’s all time coaching records is 1110-630-3 this includes his coaching from junior high school through high school. This will include every sport that Randy coached: football, track, baseball, softball, basketball and volleyball. Again, this is combined junior high and high school wins and loses.

Randy enjoyed a lot of success during his athletic playing days and coaching career. He attributes his own playing success to being able to play with great players at every level he participated in. He attributes his coaching success to the great coaches he had the privilege to work with and learn from and the great players he was blessed with being able to coach. Randy’s students and student athletes all greatly respected him and they even came up with their own nickname for him, “Swain Daddy”. As a tribute to them, during the time he raced, he named his race car Swain Daddy.

I personally believe, Randy enjoyed success, simply because he got the most out of his players and gave so much of himself during those 20 years. The most thrilling thing that I saw of Randy with his student/athletes is that he cared about them and treated each as his own child and enjoyed in their success no matter how small or how big the success was, during the good and bad. Would he again spend 12 to 19 hours days teaching/coaching if he could physically? The answer is simple, YES, he would.

I feel that Randy has inspired hundreds of young men and women to work as hard as they could both on and off the athletic field. In my opinion, this more than qualifies him for the “Olustee Public Schools Hall of Fame”, not to mention the life long commitment that Randy has made to both athletics and education.

Thank You,
Terri L. Swain