McHi coach Roy Swift guided Bulldogs’ historic ride

If Roy Swift is anything, he's determined.
When Tony Villarreal arrived in Weslaco three years ago, it was obvious the new athletic director wanted to go in a different direction with his basketball program.
Swift - who coached the Weslaco Panthers for 11 years - then decided to make a move.
"I felt they needed the change," Swift said. "Once he (Villarreal) arrived, I knew he was taking the program in a different direction. I order for the kids in the program to achieve their goals, I felt it was time for me to leave."
So Swift left after the 2005-06 season making way for former Panther great Gabe Valdez.
But Swift wasn't unemployed too long.
He landed the head coaching job at McAllen and took over a very young team and a program that hadn't experienced too much success.
And just as Swift's life changed, so did the McHi basketball program.
In his second year as McAllen head coach, Swift led the Bulldogs to their first district title in 26 years.
And after a win against Laredo Cigarroa in a Class 5A regional quarterfinal last month, McHi reached the Region IV-5A tournament for the first time since 1996-97.
Swift persevered through a pretty tough time during his career. And in his second year at McHi, Swift earned the Valley Morning Star's 2007-08 All-Valley Coach of the Year honors for the first time in his career.
"I'd been close but I never got over the top," Swift said. "I think it goes with my definition of success. Anytime you get recognized by your peers, you're successful. It means a lot to me."
In his first season, Swift led the Bulldogs to an 18-15 record and into the postseason for the first time in eight years.
All the young group needed was that small taste of success and the rest would take care of itself.
On the court, All-Valley first teamer J.J. Avila and junior Cory Pace led the Bulldogs.
The pair helped McHi to a very successful season this year and served as the cornerstone to Swift's construction of a winner.
We h ad good young talent and the kids bought into the system," Swift said. "We had a good incoming freshman class and we put together a good nucleus."
Swift scheduled a tough non-district slate for the Bulldogs and early on McHi didn't look so tough on paper.
And after losing its first two district games, things looked rough.
But Swift and the Bulldogs quickly turned things around and McHi cruised to the district title.
McAllen finished 28-10 on the season. Six of its 10 losses came to teams from the Dallas, Houston and San Antonio area.
After a bi-district win against Laredo United, Swift asked his player how far San Antonio was from McAllen.
Many attempted to answer correctly but failed. Senior Cody Dukquits answered, "three steps," and Swift knew the team was focused and primed to make a run at the regional tourney.
"I saw the look in their eye and I just got that feeling that nothing was going to stop us from achieving that goal," Swift said.