When Caleb Swearingen began his college basketball career at Olivet Nazarene University, he wasn’t 100 percent sure what he wanted to do after graduation.

That changed a couple of years in when Swearingen decided that staying in the sport, and specifically coaching at the collegiate level, was the future he wanted for himself.

“I have thought about coaching since I started playing college ball,” said Swearingen. “I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to major in and then my sophomore year, I decided to get into education to teach and coach. Then in my junior and senior year, my mind switched to the college game. I would love to make a career out of the game of basketball and help lead young men and young adults in the future, just like people have helped me and taught me in my basketball career.”

At the time, Swearingen, who became the most recent ONU player to join the program’s 1,000-point club, was focused on what he needed to do to help the Tigers win on a nightly basis. But once he wrapped up his playing career, his mind shifted towards the next part of his life, which he wanted to be filled with coaching.

Swearingen reached out to several programs about becoming a graduate assistant coach. That led to a conversation with former Indiana State University graduate assistant and current Saint Mary-of-the-Woods assistant coach Zane Latta, a Terre Haute North High School alum.

Latta relayed Swearingen’s name onto the Sycamore coaching staff, specifically assistant coach Bradley Feig, who then got the former Northview standout in touch with head coach Matthew Graves.

After multiple conversations and interviews with various members of the Sycamores, Swearingen was offered the position, one he was excited to step into this summer.

“I was reaching out to a lot of schools about becoming a graduate assistant. I knew what NAIA ball was like and was hoping to expand my knowledge, so I was reaching out to a lot of schools that would be considered mid-major. I ended up reaching out to ISU’s grad assistant who graduated last year and is now an assistant with Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Zane Latta, and he passed my name along to coach Feig and that was how I got my name in the door,” recalled Swearingen. “In the world of sports, it’s all about who you know and sometimes you have to get a little lucky. I ended up having a couple calls with coach Feig and then got on the phone with coach Graves and eventually they offered me the spot. I am very thankful to be a part of the support staff at Indiana State and am very appreciative to coach Graves and his staff for allowing me to be a part of their program.”

What will Swearingen’s role with ISU look like during the 2025-26 season?

“The fun part about being a graduate assistant is that you wear many hats,” he said. “I have already learned so much in just two short summer months. Daily duties for a graduate assistant at Indiana State can range from laundry, setting up practice, clipping film, statting practice, working with equipment and gear, training guys on the court, and helping with recruiting visits. During practice, we are on the court and helping coach up the guys, bringing energy, and helping assist with drills. Every day looks different and there are many more roles that I will have to do and jobs I will work on throughout the year.”

While serving on Graves’ staff at Indiana State, Swearingen will also be working towards his master’s degree in sports management with the hope of becoming a full-time college coach after graduating in the next two years. He’s excited about learning and developing different skills during his time as a Sycamore, especially as a leader of young men.

“I am currently studying sports management and plan to get my master’s degree in two years,” Swearingen said. “My goal is to become a college coach, so getting the opportunity to pursue sports management helps me learn a lot about the operational side of sports that people don’t usually think about when they think about being a coach. I am also learning more about how to be a more efficient leader, which is awesome. I strive to be a lifelong learner, so these next two years I am just trying to soak everything in and learn as much as I can and help the team in any way I can.”