Ed Loeb of Southwestern College is the 2019 Wally Schwartz Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) of the Year. This prestigious award, in honor of past vice president of NAIA Legislative Services and NAIA Hall of Famer Wally Schwartz, looks to recognize a faculty athletics representative who exemplifies the loyalty, enthusiasm, and honesty that Schwartz showed on behalf of the NAIA.

“Being recognized at a national level by my colleagues is incredibly humbling,” Loeb says.  “I have had the great fortune to work with so many dedicated and experienced FARs that have taught me the tricks of the trade.  To think that they view me as one of the best at the job really lets me know that I am making a difference both on campus and nationally.”

Southwestern College athletic director Mike McCoy was not surprised by the news of Loeb winning the award.

“He’s the best of the best,” says McCoy.  “We are so lucky to have him here at SC.  We rely on him for so many things.  He’s so well-respected by his fellow FAR’s and AD’s in the league, and he is just an all-around great guy.”

Loeb began his tenure at Southwestern College in 2006 and he has continued to make a lasting impact on campus ever since. In addition to his position as the faculty athletics representative at Southwestern, he serves on numerous NAIA committees, including the Conduct and Ethics Committee, Council of Faculty Athletic Representatives, and Eligibility Taskforce. Along with his service to the NAIA, he is a professor of mathematics and chair of the mathematics department at SC. His passion for athletics stems from his own experience playing baseball at Bethany College.

Loeb oversees all aspects of Southwestern’s eligibility processes and is a valued member of the Governing Council of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference. Loeb’s election to the NAIA’s National Coordinating Committee and designation as chair by his colleagues is further affirmation of his service to the NAIA. Southwestern College has seen many recent changes to its athletic department and Loeb has been a reliable constant providing counsel and guidance on matters related to both academics and athletics.

“This position allows me to combine two of my life’s passions, education and athletics,” Loeb says.   “To me, it’s important that student-athletes are getting the most out of their college experience both in the classroom and on the field/court.  I know for a good deal of students, athletics is what brings them and keeps them in college and I want to make sure that they have the opportunity to participate.”

Loeb is a dedicated advocate for athletics outside of Southwestern as well. He is the academic director of Builder Bound youth summer camp for disadvantaged, inner-city middle school students and was previously the director of the Winfield Youth Soccer Organization. He has been recognized as the “Southwestern College Professor of the Year” and was the 2019 commencement speaker, as voted on by the senior class.

Loeb loves to see his students succeed in and out of the classroom. His service to the KCAC conference has been exemplary and he has the respect and admiration of his peers. Loeb shares a common bond of loyalty, enthusiasm, and honesty for working with student-athletes to ensure they enjoy the intercollegiate athletic experience, honoring the legacy of Wally Schwartz.