Swen Nater

At 6’4”, Swen Nater tried out for his high school basketball team but was cut. At 6’9”, he made the team at Cypress College, Orange County, California. In one year, he was All America and still holds the California Community College single game rebound record at 39. John Wooden of UCLA wanted Swen and he accepted. However, he only practiced the first year and for his junior and senior years, sat the bench behind Bill Walton. But that didn’t stop Swen from pursuing his basketball dreams.

He was drafted in the first round of the NBA (the only player to not have started a college game and be drafted in the first round), he joined the ABA where he became Rookie of the Year, a two-time All Star, and led the league in rebounds and field goal percentage. When he jumped to the NBA, he led that league in rebounds also and still holds the all time record for defensive rebounds in one half of a game, 18, and the Milwaukee Bucks single game rebound record at 33.

After playing basketball, Swen Nater became athletic director and head coach at Christian Heritage College where he led the Hawks to a national small college championship. Swen is author of five books including "You Haven’t Taught Until They Have Learned," co-authored with Ronald Gallimore and a study on John Wooden’s teaching methods; "John Wooden’s UCLA Offense," co-authored with Coach Wooden; and "Playing Big," the complete handbook on post play, co-authored with Pete Newell.

Swen has been inducted into the Orange County Hall of Fame, The San Diego Hall of Champions Hall of Fame, has been honored as Mr. Clipper, All-Time, and is one of only four players to earn entrance into the “30-30 Club,” scoring 30 points and grabbing 33 rebounds in the same NBA Game.

For the last 18 years, Swen has been a buyer for Costco Wholesale, but finds time to conduct post player clinics around the world. He is also a sought-after motivational speaker because of his ability to entertain an audience with humor and deliver life-changing truths.