Swaffar Named Equestrian Jumping Coach
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina equestrian head coach Carol Gwin announced today that Sierra Swaffar will join her staff as the jumping coach. The All-American rider brings three years of college coaching experience from her alma mater to the SEC Champion Gamecock staff.
“I’m excited to welcome Sierra to our program, and I know she’s going to be a great addition to our staff,” Gwin said. “I’ve known Sierra for over 10 years as both a student-athlete and a coach, and she’s been a rising star in our industry. She has worked with some great trainers in both California and North Carolina, and she did a wonderful job working at Fresno State with their student-athletes, the culture and the horses. Sierra was a winner as a student-athlete and has proven herself to be a very talented coach, and I couldn’t be happier to have her join our Gamecock family.”
Swaffar has spent the last three seasons as the assistant jumping seat coach at Fresno State, helping the Bulldogs double their win total last season, including wins over three top-10 teams. She helped three riders earn NCEA All-America honors, including a first-team selection on the flat in 2024 which was the program’s first in that discipline in nine seasons. After two of her riders grabbed All-Big 12 honors in 2024, Swaffar saw a freshman become just the second rider in program history earn the honor in both flat and fences.
As a Bulldog rider (2015-18), Swaffar helped Fresno State to its first equestrian conference title in winning the United Equestrian Conference championship in 2015. As a sophomore she became the program’s second NCEA First-Team All-American on the flat, adding 2016 UEC Rider of the Year honors in the discipline. Her 9-4-1 record on the flat included six MOP accolades and a 6-4-1 mark in conference action. Swaffar was a captain in each of her final two seasons, piling up 23 wins in that stretch.
Swaffar graduated from Fresno State in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business and went on to work at Rose Hill Stables in Pleasanton, Calif., and for Karen Bruce at Irish Oaks Farm in Lewisville, N.C., before becoming a college coach.
“I’m thrilled about the opportunity to join such an incredible program and university,” Swaffar said. “I want to thank Carol, T.R. [Potts], Clark Cox and the entire Gamecock staff for giving me this opportunity to be part of such an amazing program. I’m really excited to be joining a program with such a rich history of championships, developing great riders and providing student-athletes with a top-notch college experience. From the facilities to the support staff to the student-athlete experience, I was impressed with the incredible investment that the University continues to put into the athletes and the facility.”
South Carolina equestrian season begins its 2025-26 season on Fri., Sept. 26, when SMU comes to Blythewood. The Gamecocks will host six meets at One Wood Farm this season.
