BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Augustana senior football student-athlete Logan Swanson has been selected by NSIC league head coaches as the 2021 Glen Galligan Award recipient. The award is given to a student-athlete who participates at his institution for four years and is academically superior while making a positive contribution to the institution.
 
"We are so proud of Logan's recognition as the recipient of the 2021 NSIC Glen Galligan Award," Augustana head coach Jerry Olszewski said. "Logan has been a dominant defensive lineman in our conference and one of the best in the country.  A captain of our football team and true leader on our campus as well as in our community."
 
The Galligan Award was initiated in 1948 to honor an outstanding senior football player in the NSIC. Glen Galligan was the athletics director at Winona State University from 1929-47 and head football coach from 1927-33 and 1935.
 
"He prides himself as a servant-leader and impacts all he comes into contact with in a positive manner," Olszewski added. "This is such a special award for our league as it represents the whole person as an athlete, student, leader and servant.
 
"With that said, Logan embodies every one of those qualities at an elite level. I couldn't be more proud of Logan and will miss every aspect of his presence on our team and campus."
 
Swanson, a native of Mankato, Minnesota, is a secondary education and STEM composite major. In addition, he will graduate with minors in computer science, entrepreneurship, math and physics, all while serving as a leader not only on the Augustana campus but in the Sioux Falls community.
 
The defensive lineman started a "Backpack for Kids" program for underserved children in the community and has been completely led by Augustana student-athletes. On campus, he has not only participated but has been the lead in theatre productions and been the highest-hour volunteer on the Augustana football team.
 
On the field, he is a 2021 Second Team All-NSIC South Division honoree having racked up 25 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks all while being consistently double teamed. He is the key cog in the Vikings' defense that ranks second in the nation for fewest rushing yards allowed.
 
In 2019, Swanson was a First Team All-NSIC South Division selection after tying Augustana's single-season record with eight quarterback sacks. In all, he totaled 15 tackles for loss as part of 51 total tackles throughout the season.
 
Swanson is the third Viking to be named the recipient of the Glen Galligan Award in its 73-year history. He joins Dan Schoen (2010) and C.J. Ham (2015) as other Augustana recipients of the award.