Twitter: @CoachSweeneyCMS
Kyle Sweeney was named the head coach of the CMS football program in 2011, and since then, he has brought the program to new heights, including SCIAC titles in 2018 and 2022, and matching the winningest season in program history with 8-2 marks in both 2023 and 2024.
Sweeney's eighth season at the helm in 2018 resulted in the program's first SCIAC title since 1987 and the first NCAA Division III Tournament bid in program history. For his efforts, Sweeney and his assistants were named the 2018 SCIAC Coaching Staff of the Year.
After suffering a winless season with a young and rebuilding team in 2012, Sweeney quickly built the program up to back-to-back 7-2 finishes in 2015 and 2016, finishing as the SCIAC runner-up both years. Including their conference championship in 2018, and another second place finish in 2021, the Stags are 45-23 since the 2015 season.
Following the 8-2 season in 2024, the Stags have now had seven wins or more seven times in the last nine seasons since 2015 (around a missing year for COVID). The Class of 2025 became the winningest class in program history with 30 wins over the four year span from 2021-24, breaking the old record by five.
Sweeney came to CMS after two years as the defensive coordinator at the University of Chicago in 2009 and 2010. During his tenure, Chicago enjoyed their best season since 1998 and back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2001. In 2010 Chicago won the University Athletic Association title outright, while Sweeney's defense finished ranked second nationally in sacks and third in tackles for loss, as well as leading the conference in rushing defense.
Before accepting the defensive coordinator job at Chicago. Sweeney was the head coach at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois for the 2007 and 2008 seasons. From his first to second season, the team was arguably the most improved team in the country. The scoring offense and defense improved a combined 29.5 points per game, including moving up more than 140 positions in three Division III statistical categories during his stay.
Prior to MacMurray College, Coach Sweeney served as the defensive coordinator at Endicott College in Beverly, Massachusetts for four seasons. The defense amassed some impressive statistics during his tenure, including leading the nation (all divisions) with 30 interceptions, while ranking first in Division III in turnovers gained and third in pass defense. In 2004, Endicott ranked 19th nationally in rushing defense, while in 2005 and 2006 Endicott ranked in the top 10 nationally in several defensive categories, including first in turnover margin, third in pass defense as well as 12th in scoring defense. Endicott also ranked first in the New England Football Conference in scoring defense in 2006.
Preceding Endicott, he worked as a recruiter at his alma mater, Occidental College, during the spring of 2002 where he helped recruit a team of players that led Oxy to a 9-1 record, including two NCAA playoff wins in 2004, and another 9-1 finish, including a playoff appearance in 2005.
Coach Sweeney’s first coaching stop was as the defensive back coach at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois. At IWU, he help his team to back-to-back conference titles for the only time in the last 50 years, while ranking in the top-20 nationally in Division III by the American Football Coaches Association each season. While at Illinois Wesleyan, two of Coach Sweeney's defensive backs earned All-America recognition and both were selected to play in the Aztec Bowl, the annual Division III All Star game at that time.
As an undergraduate, Coach Sweeney was a four-year starter at strong safety for Occidental College. During his senior year, he enjoyed an opportunity unusual in modern college football, playing both wide receiver and strong safety. He was also a four-year starter on the baseball team at Occidental.
Coach Sweeney graduated from Jesuit High School in Sacramento, California, where he competed in football, baseball and track, with his teams winning section titles in all three sports. His senior year, the football team finished undefeated, winning the Division I Sac-Joaquin Section title and was ranked 12th in the state of California out of more than 1,300 high schools. That year he received the prestigious "Iron Man" award for football and his team was later inducted into the Jesuit High School hall of fame.
Kyle and his wife Ann live in Claremont with their daughters Kira and Lara.
