Toby Schwarz has served as the head coach of Whitworth University’s track and field and cross-country programs for nearly 30 years, making him the longest tenured coach in the university’s athletics department. Since taking over the programs in the late 1990s, he has transformed what were once small teams into powerhouses.
Under his leadership, hundreds of student athletes have earned national championships, conference titles and other honors. He has led Whitworth teams to multiple top 20 national finishes and has personally received 31 Coach of the Year awards. These accomplishments have significantly raised the national profile of Whitworth’s track and cross-country programs.
Notably, Schwarz emphasizes that his focus extends beyond medals and championships. “My desire is to help people to grow and to reach their full potential,” Schwarz said, “Athletically, academically, socially and spiritually.”
That mission, developing the whole person, drives not only his coaching but also his work as a mentor on campus. “I do it for their best interest and not for my own,” said Schwarz.
“I am a benevolent dictator,” he said frankly, “It is an authoritarian style. I want to help people to do their best. That means I need to tell them what they need to hear and not what they want to hear. It requires me to love them for who they are and believe that they can be better versions of themselves.”
When asked about accomplishments he’s most proud of, Schwarz didn’t point to titles or trophies.
“Championships and national accomplishments are always good, but the things I hold dear are the stories of those who grew the most,” shared Schwarz, “Athletes that I wanted to kick off the team in the first month I knew them, and then they became team leaders by graduation.”
However, balancing all coaching, teaching and mentoring Whitworth students and athletes alike is not a small feat.
Swarz explains his methodology, stating, “I wake up every morning with the mindset that my life purpose is to minister to others, so there is no eight-hour workday. God has given me opportunities, and I need to take advantage of them. Plus, I’m super organized.”
As the longest-serving coach at Whitworth University, Schwarz’s influence is clear. With a strong coaching style shaped with discipline and care, Schwarz continues to influence generation after generation of student athletes. Track and Field will compete at the Whitworth Last Chance Meet on May 7, which is their last home meet of the 2025 season.
