University of Minnesota Athletics
Baseball
Swenson, Lee
Lee Swenson
- Title:
- Director of Baseball Operations
- Email:
- swens060@umn.edu
- Phone:
- 612-625-0135
Lee Swenson completed his 13th season as the Director of Operations and his 26th overall with the Gopher Baseball program in 2023. Prior to shifting to operations, Swenson spent 13 seasons as the Gophers' volunteer coach. While a volunteer coach, "Swede" primarily worked with the catchers during the season and as the developmental camp coordinator. In his current role, Swenson handles all daily operations and travel for the team.
Swenson helped with the development of senior Kyle Knudson, who led the Big Ten in runners caught stealing and in percentage of runners thrown out in 2009. Swenson also played a big role in the career of former Golden Gopher catchers Jake Elder and Jeff DeSmidt.
DeSmidt entered the 2008 season having played 87 games as mostly a backup and a designated hitter with a career batting average of .209. In his senior season, Swenson's lessons paid off as DeSmidt earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors, batted .371, had the most home runs by a Golden Gopher catcher since 1995 and started 35 games behind the plate.
Elder was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2005 MLB Draft. He was also named a Second Team All-Big Ten catcher in 2004. He also saw the number of runners that he threw out jump from 27 percent in 2003 to 33 percent in 2004. Swenson was responsible for the improvement of every Golden Gopher catcher throughout his tenure as a volunteer assistant.
Swenson was a seventh-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 1985, following a stellar career at Luther College. He was a two-time all-conference and all-region selection catcher. After a shoulder injury ended his professional playing career, he spent five years as an assistant coach at the University of North Dakota, his final season as the assistant head coach. Following his time with North Dakota, Swenson spent another five seasons as the pitching and catching coach at Luther College in Iowa.
He received his degree in physical education from Luther and his master's from North Dakota. He married former Victoria Villberg in 2011 and is the proud parent of fraternal twins - daughter Sydney and son Riley.
Swenson helped with the development of senior Kyle Knudson, who led the Big Ten in runners caught stealing and in percentage of runners thrown out in 2009. Swenson also played a big role in the career of former Golden Gopher catchers Jake Elder and Jeff DeSmidt.
DeSmidt entered the 2008 season having played 87 games as mostly a backup and a designated hitter with a career batting average of .209. In his senior season, Swenson's lessons paid off as DeSmidt earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors, batted .371, had the most home runs by a Golden Gopher catcher since 1995 and started 35 games behind the plate.
Elder was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2005 MLB Draft. He was also named a Second Team All-Big Ten catcher in 2004. He also saw the number of runners that he threw out jump from 27 percent in 2003 to 33 percent in 2004. Swenson was responsible for the improvement of every Golden Gopher catcher throughout his tenure as a volunteer assistant.
Swenson was a seventh-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 1985, following a stellar career at Luther College. He was a two-time all-conference and all-region selection catcher. After a shoulder injury ended his professional playing career, he spent five years as an assistant coach at the University of North Dakota, his final season as the assistant head coach. Following his time with North Dakota, Swenson spent another five seasons as the pitching and catching coach at Luther College in Iowa.
He received his degree in physical education from Luther and his master's from North Dakota. He married former Victoria Villberg in 2011 and is the proud parent of fraternal twins - daughter Sydney and son Riley.
First Practice of Fall
Thursday, September 18
Weber Neels Highlights
Wednesday, May 28
Gophers (11) - Michigan State (5) Highlights
Friday, May 16
Gophers (4) - Michigan State (3) Highlights
Thursday, May 15
