Jason Swiger Memorial Scholarship

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Jason Swiger Memorial Scholarship

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The Jason Swiger Memorial Scholarship page has been set up to share information for the cause.

The goal is to support one United Local senior and one Salem senior football player each year for students pursuing either college or trade school.

10/31/2026

Sharing this picture for Halloween . A special memory of Jason and Tyson during a visit to Jason at United. Now, Tyson is in his second year of teaching at West Branch. Life really does come full circle. ❤️🍁🎃👻

10/15/2026

This Friday is Senior Night at United, honoring the seniors in football, cheer, band, cross country, and golf. It’s also Senior Night for Salem football.

And certainly, we can’t forget all the United volleyball and soccer athletes as they wrap up their seasons, too.

To all of the seniors being honored, this night is about celebrating you and everything you have accomplished. You have worked hard, grown through challenges, supported your teammates and classmates, and made memories that will stay with you long after this season ends. You should be incredibly proud of how far you have come and of the impact you have made on your teams, your programs, and the people around you. Hug your parents and loved ones, take lots of pictures, be proud of yourselves and all you’ve accomplished, and don’t forget to thank your coaches for the time, dedication, and memories they’ve given you. Most importantly, take it all in and enjoy every moment.

As you begin wrapping up all the “lasts,” take it all in. PAUSE. Take in the lights, the music, the cheers, the nerves, the people beside you, and the moments you will miss someday. These experiences go by far too quickly, so be present, celebrate this milestone, and appreciate everything it took to get here.

Coach Swigs~Mr. Swiger was such a big part of so many of your lives. He cared deeply about his students and athletes and loved watching them grow, work hard, overcome obstacles, and accomplish their goals. I know he would have been so proud of each of you. He would have been proud of your successes, and reminding you that the lessons you learned, the relationships you built, and the person you became along the way matter just as much as the accomplishments themselves.

There is something so special about knowing that one senior from United and one senior from Salem football will be the very first recipients of the Jason Swiger Memorial Scholarship. Knowing that his legacy will live on through these young men/women in the community and football program that meant so much to him, makes this even more meaningful. I know he would be so proud of you all for getting here.
💙💛🖤❤️

Sharing pictures from Coach Swigs—Mr. Swiger’s very own senior night—as well as our boys senior nights!♥️

10/06/2026

National Coaches Day♥️🏈

“A good coach can change a game, but a great coach can change a life.”

Watching my own boys coach is a beautiful reminder of their dad and the years he spent coaching. Jason taught them that coaching was about so much more than the game—it was about building character, teaching perseverance, and making a difference.

I know he would be so proud to see them carrying on his love for the game. May his legacy live on through them.

Happy National Coaches Day to ALL the AMAZING COACHES who give so much of themselves to make a difference in the lives of others……we happen to know several.

(Facebook came across my feed today that it’s National Coaches Day. I Googled it to see if this was actually a thing, and sure enough, it is….This is what came up, and I thought it was interesting to share:

“Yes, today is National Coaches Day, which is celebrated annually on October 6th.
President Richard Nixon first established the observance in 1972 via Proclamation 4157 to honor the mentors, teachers, and counselors who guide athletes and students.”)

10/01/2026

In 1998, Jason was inducted into the South Range High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Ironically, the game he was honored at was South Range vs. United.

At the time, Jason was living in North Carolina, where he was teaching and coaching junior high football. He made the drive back home for the weekend to be there for this special honor.

And then, the following year Jason accepted a teaching and coaching position at United Local.

Looking back, it’s hard not to see the significance in that South Range vs. United game. At the time, none of us could have known that United would eventually become such a huge part of Jason’s story. What a beautiful full-circle moment to look back on. 🏈♥️💛

09/18/2026

This would have been Jason’s 28th year at United Local. I’ve found myself thinking a lot about the staff and students since last week as the new school year began.

I’m especially grateful that I had the opportunity to help Jason finish packing up his classroom at the old school and then help him set up what became his classroom at the new school at the beginning of last school year. I never could have known then just how meaningful those moments would become to me.

Even though Jason wasn’t there for most of last school year, I’m certain his absence was felt as the teachers gathered for meetings and then welcomed students back into the halls and classrooms. He spent many years pouring his heart into his students, and worked alongside the best coworkers. His presence made an impact, and I know his absence is felt.

I will forever be grateful for those who continue to keep in touch with me and check in from time to time. The support, kindness, and love they have shown our family have been nothing short of amazing. It means more than I could ever put into words.

Sharing a few pictures from through the years—memories of Jason, his students, his coworkers, and a place that meant so much to him.💙💛📚

09/11/2026

This morning, I was trying to find an image to share in remembrance of 9/11 on the scholarship page, especially as we mark 25 years since that day. This came across my news feed, and I thought it was beautifully said, the article and the picture gave me goosebumps….took me back to the day.

Jason was still coaching football at United at this time. Just days after, we had shared the news that we were pregnant with our oldest son, Tyson.

I was working for Children Services, and we were sent home early that day. I remember how scared we both were. We were about to become parents, and suddenly the world felt like a very different place.

Twenty-five years later, those memories still feel so vivid. I think about how young we were, how excited we were to become parents, and how much life would unfold after that day.

And today, as I remember 9/11, I also remember Jason as he was then—a young teacher and football coach, soon-to-be dad, and someone who cared deeply about his students and his family.

Jordan Phillips who was interviewed in this article was a student and football player for United at the time….years later-he has been teaching at United and coaches football under Coach Ogilvie.

Some days in our lives stay with us forever. September 11 is one of those days. Today, we remember not only the lives that were lost, but also the bravery, courage, and selflessness of so many people that day.

We remember. We honor. And we never forget.
🇺🇸❤️🤍💙

(United Gridiron Club~Hope you don’t mind the share.💙💛🏈)

09/03/2026

To the Class of 2027,

Welcome to your SENIOR YEAR!
As you step into this important milestone, our greatest hope is that you truly enjoy this year and take it all in. The months ahead will move quickly, so pause often and appreciate the moments—from loud Friday night games to quiet days in the classroom. As you navigate this final year, remember to make wise decisions that honor your future. Make yourselves proud, and make your loved ones proud.

For our family, this time of year brings a lot of emotions. We think about how much Mr. Swiger—Coach Swigs loved being part of your lives. Being a teacher and a coach wasn’t just a job to him, it was simply something he cared deeply about. He loved watching his students and athletes learn, grow, overcome obstacles, and discover what they were capable of.

We know he would tell you to work hard, stay true to who you are, and believe in yourselves. He would remind you that success isn’t always about being the best or winning every time. Sometimes, it’s about getting back up when things don’t go your way, believing in yourself, and continuing to move forward. He set an extraordinary example for everyone who knew him of what it means to be strong and persevere through any circumstance.

As you begin this last chapter of high school, we hope you take the time to appreciate the people around you. Appreciate your family and friends. Thank the teachers and coaches who have made a difference in your life. Make memories. Take the pictures. Enjoy the moments.

Later this school year, our family will have the honor of selecting the very first recipients of the Jason Swiger Memorial Scholarship-one SENIOR student from United Local and one SENIOR football player from Salem. While we look forward to learning more about each senior who applies, we want you to know that these scholarships represent far more than an award. They are a way to carry forward the profound legacy of Mr. Swiger—Coach Swigs~and to ensure that his dedication, encouragement, and belief in young people continue to inspire and impact students and athletes for many years to come.

We hope that wherever life takes you after graduation, you carry with you the lessons, encouragement, and love that have helped shape you along the way.

And if Mr. Swiger—Coach Swigs could leave you with one final piece of advice, we believe it would be this:

Believe in yourself. Work hard. Be kind. Never give up. And always remember the people who believed in you along the way.

Make this year count.
Make memories that last a lifetime.

With love,

The Swiger Family
In loving memory of Mr. Swiger—Coach Swigs
💙💛🖤❤️

08/21/2026

With Week 1 of football season upon us, my heart and mind turn to our Salem Quaker Football Family, and to the unforgettable years Jason spent shaping the young men on the offensive line. Coach Swigs didn't just teach skill….with the biggest heart~he taught grit, accountability, and life. May his passion for the game and the profound impact he had on his players forever remain a part of Quaker football. As a new season begins without him, we hold his memory close….may his lessons live on in every block and every huddle. Wishing the coaching staff and the entire team a healthy and amazing season ahead.🏈🖤❤️

-Also sending our best wishes to all the area football teams and coaches out there for a safe and successful season.🏈

08/17/2026

Over the weekend, myself and our boys attended the Stockman wedding. Not only did Jason have the privilege of coaching Caleb and his twin brother, Carson, on the offensive line at Salem~ they also played alongside our boys. Being there on behalf of Jason meant so much to our family, he had a forever bond with these young men….a bond that reached far beyond the sidelines. Coach Swigs would have been proud, no doubt he was smiling down. Such a beautiful wedding, so happy we got to be part of their special day. Congratulations to Caleb and Lauren!♥️

08/09/2026

United Local was Jason’s first varsity football coaching job, and it always held a special place in his heart. Not only as a coach but as a teacher. He had the privilege of coaching under two great head coaches, DJ Ogilvie and Jeff Sharkey, both of whom he had tremendous respect for. Along with several other fine men who coached alongside him. His time at United began in 1999—the summer we got married. It was a chapter of our lives filled with memories, friendships, and experiences that stayed with us through the years. It was at this time I knew that football would be a big part of who we were as a family. Not only did he form amazing bonds with his players, but also with their families and this community. Bonds to last a lifetime. When you are married to a coach, you too must be all in, and also get to be a part of forming some amazing bonds.

While circumstances beyond his control eventually led him to step away from coaching football at United, he never stopped carrying a special love for the players and families he had grown so fond of. They remained a part of him. When playing against United….whether while coaching at South Range or Salem, at the end, when the teams would go through shaking hands-Jason would walk through the opposite side of everyone else so he could give each United player a special tap on their helmets, one by one. Honoring them in his own way. Even though they became his opponents, he still cared deeply for them. He was proud of them, and wanted them to know that they mattered to him.

Our boys were both around four and five months old when they first started going to football games. We never missed a game. They would sit on my lap or on the bench next to me and be so intrigued with what was happening on that football field. My family could never get over the way they sat there watching. I’ll never forget the time, it was the last game of regular season…the big United~Lisbon rivalry game, week 10. It was going to be chilly. Tyson was around 4 years old, Caden was around 1 1/2 years old. I had just got done getting them layered up, and I was in the other room getting myself ready. Caden had climbed up on a small bench in our kitchen, falling and gashing his head. We headed over to the emergency room, got him stitched up….and made it to the game by halftime. Jason had no idea til after the game. Nothing was keeping us from being there.

I could go on and on in sharing some of the best memories that came along with his time coaching for United. Grateful for these times and the families we met along the way. 🏈💙💛

Address

Salem, OH

Website

http://salemcommunityfoundation.org/

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