About
Bryan Swalley is an accomplished baseball coach, educator, and author whose work bridges the worlds of sports leadership and storytelling. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Marshall University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Wheeling University, reflecting his lifelong dedication to learning, growth, and mentorship.
He is the author of the acclaimed Growing With the Game series, including Integrating Child Development Theories Into Youth Sports Coaching and Leadership Strategies for Every Sports Coach. These books have guided coaches and parents toward a deeper understanding of athlete development and effective leadership. His writing combines practical experience with developmental insight, shaping a generation of coaches who lead with purpose and empathy.
Bryan’s storytelling now extends into fiction with his debut novel The Reclamation, a gripping Appalachian suspense story rooted in integrity, perseverance, and the courage to do what is right even when it comes at a cost. Drawing from his West Virginia roots, he writes with authenticity and emotional depth, exploring the connections between place, purpose, and the people who refuse to give up on either.
He has coached at the collegiate and professional levels, including with Major League Baseball China and the Lexington Counter Clocks of the Atlantic League, where his teams achieved one of the league’s highest fielding percentages.
Featured Work
The Reclamation
Rob thought leaving the Army would mean peace. Instead, it brings him back to the Appalachian town that raised him. Now, a place hollowed out by shuttered shops, broken promises, and quiet stares that never say what everyone knows.
What waits in the hills isn't the home he remembered. Old friends remain, but the courthouse casts a longer shadow and a powerful man running the mining company has a grip on the land and the people. Beneath the surface runs something deeper: corruption guarded by lawmen, silence bought with fear, and secrets buried.
Rob never came back looking for a fight. But when lines are crossed, when neighbors are driven from their homes, when the truth threatens to vanish for good, the choice is no longer his. The past has a way of calling a man forward, and this time, standing might cost him everything.
An atmospheric thriller, The Reclamation is a story of loyalty, resilience, and one man's struggle to stand against the darkness consuming his town.
