Troy University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2020
Nancy Dansby-Swanson was a pioneer. One of the first dual-sport athletes in the country and at Troy, the former Nancy Dansby was a standout for the Trojans on both the hardwood and the hardcourt.
Swanson is married to former Troy baseball standout Cooter Swanson and is the mother of current Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson, Dansby-Swanson finished her freshman year with a combined record of 17-3 overall as the Trojans’ No. 1 singles player and a 14-1 mark as the Trojans’ top doubles duo.
Dansby-Swanson also represented the Trojans on the basketball hardwood, averaging 12.3 points-per-game, second to Troy Sports Hall of Famer Denise Monroe.
“Nancy was an extremely gritty and focused individual,” Monroe said when she was asked to describe her former teammate.
“Nancy has a lot of natural talent, and her athleticism was evident. Even though she was about 5-foot-2, she was an amazing athlete. When you see people that are elite athletes, their ability can translate to many different sports, so it does not surprise me at all that she was able to play both women’s basketball and tennis at Troy.”
When asked why she felt this honor would be special to Nancy Dansby-Swanson, Monroe has a simple yet powerful answer.
“It’s clear that Troy University meant, and means, a lot to Nancy,” Monroe said. “The fact that she married a baseball player from Troy and played both tennis and basketball makes Troy even more important. When you have a husband and a wife who contributed to a university at a high level and accomplish what both Nancy and Cooter accomplished, it’s special. Coupled with the fact that Troy’s women’s sports were just beginning to emerge at a time where every university was trying to establish their women’s sports programs at both the D-I and D-II levels, makes her accomplishments even more important. For Nancy to be a dual-sport athlete, she was able to establish the women’s tennis program as one of the best programs ever. Then, she was also able to contribute to a basketball program that was also trying to establish itself for the future. So, for her to accomplish what she did should live forever.”
When asked to speak about her teammate’s legacy at the university they both love and share a degree from, Monroe did not mince her words.
“For as long as women’s sports exist at Troy, the name Nancy Swanson should be brought up. I would think when Nancy looks back at her legacy, she must have a great amount of appreciation and admiration,” Monroe added.
In the end, Swanson’s legacy is undeniable. As a true freshman, Swanson completed the aforementioned 17-3 record, advancing to the AIAW Small College National Championship. The former Marietta, Ga., native also helped the Trojans end the season as the No. 5 ranked team in the country. In 1977, Dansby-Swanson helped Troy reach the pinnacle, as the Trojans took home AAIAW Championship as well as the doubles state title.
On the basketball court during the 1977-78 season, she led the Trojans in made free throws (58) and percentage (.722), as the Georgian helped lead the Trojans to a 21-9 mark during the 1978-79 season and an AIAW Regional appearance.
“This honor I would think is a good opportunity for Nancy to take a look back and realize what she was able to accomplish for Troy University,” Monroe concluded. “The thing I remember about Nancy and will always remember is how tough she was as an athlete and how accomplished she was as an athlete. It didn’t matter to her how much taller the other team was than her, she was just focused and willing to do whatever to win, which to me is the ultimate testament to an athlete.”
