In his own words, Luke Swan, a senior marketing major, describes being a member of TCU Men’s Outdoor Tennis National Championship team and how his Neeley experience factored in off-the-court victories as a motivator for teammates and contributing to a winning culture.
June 17, 2024
What motivated you to choose TCU and the Neeley School of Business?
Reflecting on my time here, many of the lessons needed to win on the tennis court were the same ones taught to students in the TCU Neeley School of Business. They included teamwork, strategy, motivation and execution.
My professors promote the importance of excellence in pursuit of the greater good, achievement through critical thinking, intellectual inquiry and creative expression which in turn fuels lifelong learning and lasting impact. To succeed in a challenging and unpredictable landscape, students need to show courage and creative skills as well as fresh thinking and a practical approach – essential skills on the tennis court.
I came from London to Fort Worth to get a great business education and win a national championship in tennis. Little did I know, both goals would be achieved by my junior year. In late May, the TCU Men’s Tennis team won our first title since the tournament began in 1946. For the rest of my life, it’s an honor that will follow our university, our team and myself.
How did you contribute to the TCU Men’s Outdoor Tennis team winning the first National Championship?
To be clear, I was not a starter on the team. I did not play often, but I attended every practice, every match, every strategy session and every team activity. Being part of the culture, studying, sweating, learning, growing, motivating my teammates and becoming an essential part of the team are life lessons. These lessons were first taught to me in class during a series of rigorous courses in the Neeley School of Business honors program – Neeley Fellows.
I learned to put my individual desire for success to one side in support of what was best for the team. While I rarely played a match, I was able to recognize all the different ways I could contribute to the team's success and help them win a NCAA title.
Would you share an example of a time when you applied academic lessons to tennis or other opportunities on campus?
Tennis, like life, can often be a lonely sport. But even though a singles player is alone on the court, he or she can feel the support and will of their teammates. During the championship match, we were down and I took it upon myself to lead the cheers for my teammates in the final two singles matches.
I remembered my academic training. We have to work out strategies to deliver the best outcome for our professors and team in the same way we have to find a way to win a challenging match. The motto of Neeley Fellows is to be inspired by challenge, driven by excellence, supported by community. This proved to be both inspirational and critical to me as a team member.
Meg Lehman, the Neeley Fellows program director, taught me the importance of resiliency. Her confidence in me has been infectious. She called me a “coach and a cheerleader in our community” and an “excellent ambassador.”
Volunteering is another opportunity to showcase your heart and support others. I helped set up TCU’S pickleball club, which now has over 1,200 members, and became a volunteer with the Bingo in the Park program, which supports the homeless community.
How would your coaches describe you?
TCU Men’s Head Tennis Coach David Roditi, a former TCU tennis player and an alumnus of Neeley, is a master motivator. At the end of the season, he wrote a note that meant a lot to me. The note read:
“Luke understands what it means to be part of a team better than anyone we have had. TCU Neeley deserves a lot of credit for preparing Luke to be part of a team and to lead when the team needs leadership. He is a brilliant communicator, often finding ways to use humor to get his teammates to relax and perform when they needed to. He brought everyone together during times when things were difficult and was the loudest to cheer when times were good. He is the heart of our team.”
What’s next for you this summer?
This summer I will be merging the worlds of business and sport, working as an intern with Nike in Los Angeles. As part of their brand marketing team, I get the opportunity to work on Olympic-related projects. This opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without the training, discipline, mentorship and direction of my professors and coaches. I won’t let them down. Besides, I have to keep pushing and keep working. Next season is coming up soon.
