John Swofford on his Career in Athletics from UNC Athletic Director to Commissioner of the ACC

In The Front Row with Mike Vaccaro

John Swofford was born and raised in North Wilkesboro, NC where his dad owned a tire store that catered to NASCAR legends like Junior Johnson. Swofford was an All-State quarterback at Wilkes Central High School and attended the University of North Carolina on a Morehead Scholarship. He was part of coach Bill Dooley’s first recruiting class for the Tar Heels and played both quarterback and safety. After earning his master’s degree at Ohio University, Swofford began his athletic administration career at Virginia before returning to North Carolina where he would take over as Athletic Director in 1980 at the age of 31. After 17 years leading the Tar Heels to more ACC and National Championships than any other AD in ACC history, Swofford joined the league as the 4th commissioner in conference history. He became the longest tenured commissioner in ACC history serving in that role for 24 years before retiring in 2021. In this episode, Swofford tells us what makes a good athletic director and what accomplishments he’s most proud of during his career. He also shares his advice he received from Dean Smith along with some of the coaches who highlighted his time in Chapel Hill and with the ACC. Swofford also remembers the influence of former UNC Athletic Director Homer Rice, reflects on his induction into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and gives his take on college athletics. In the Front Row with Mike Vaccaro is your front row seat to one-on-one conversations with sports figures. Each episode we go beyond the bio and hear about the stories that made headlines. Our guests are hall of famers, gold medalists, record holders, trailblazers and more. We cover all sports and all eras to bring you amazing guests with incredible accounts of the moments that made them the athlete and person they are today. Join us as our guests share memories of their best, and worst, moments of their journey in sports and in life.