Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Orlando Bloom

Cole Swider comes from one of basketball’s most athletic families. Born Cole Alexander Swider on May 8, 1999, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the Los Angeles Lakers forward is the son of Jeff and Jenny Swider. Basketball runs through several generations of the family: both of Cole’s parents played at the college level, his grandmother was also a college basketball player, and all three of his siblings have competed in the sport.
Swider grew up alongside his brother Connor and sisters Kylie and Courtney in a household where basketball was part of everyday life. His family’s influence has remained important throughout a career that has taken him from Villanova and Syracuse to the NBA, NBA G League, EuroLeague and back to the Lakers organization. Here is everything reliably known about Cole Swider’s girlfriend, children, parents and siblings.
Does Cole Swider Have a Girlfriend?
As of now, Cole Swider has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend. There is no reliable recent reporting from established sports outlets identifying a current romantic partner.
Swider has kept his dating life particularly private throughout his college and professional basketball career. His interviews and public appearances generally focus on basketball, his Christian faith, his family and his work in the Rhode Island community rather than romantic relationships.
Some biography websites have previously described Swider as single, but because he does not regularly discuss his romantic life publicly, it is more accurate to say that no current girlfriend has been reliably confirmed.
Is Cole Swider Married?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Cole Swider is married or engaged.
Neither his official NBA biography nor recent authoritative profiles identify a wife or fiancée. Unless Swider chooses to make his relationship status public, claims about a marriage or engagement should be treated cautiously.
Does Cole Swider Have Children?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Cole Swider has any children.
Swider has not announced becoming a father, and his official basketball biographies do not identify any sons or daughters. As of now, he should therefore not be described as having children.
Who Are Cole Swider’s Parents?
Cole Swider’s parents are Jeff Swider and Jenny Swider. Both played college basketball, making the sport an important part of the family long before Cole developed into an NBA player.
Jeff played one season of basketball at Fordham University, while Jenny played at the University of New Hampshire and served as a team captain during her senior season.
They raised four children: Cole, Kylie, Courtney and Connor. Remarkably, all four children developed into competitive basketball players.
Cole has spoken very positively about the support his parents provided throughout his career and has described his relationship with his family as one of the most valuable things in his life.
Cole Swider’s Father: Jeff Swider
Cole Swider’s father is Jeff Swider, a former college basketball player who spent one season at Fordham University.
Although Jeff did not pursue a lengthy professional basketball career, his experience in the sport allowed him to understand many of the challenges his children would later face as competitive players.
Jeff also built a professional career away from basketball. Public business profiles have associated him with sales, telecommunications and technology leadership roles.
His most important public connection to Cole, however, has always been as a supportive father.
When Cole struggled for consistent playing time during portions of his Villanova career, Jeff remained closely involved in helping him think through his future. Cole eventually decided to transfer to Syracuse, where he received a much larger role and dramatically improved his professional prospects.
Jeff later spoke positively about the decision, emphasizing that his son had given everything he could at Villanova and needed an opportunity that better fit his development.
How Jeff Swider Influenced Cole’s Basketball Career
Growing up with a father who had played Division I basketball gave Cole an early understanding of the demands associated with the sport.
Jeff and Jenny did not simply support Cole’s basketball career. They were also raising three other children who would eventually compete in basketball themselves.
That meant practices, workouts, tournaments and games became a normal part of family life.
Swider has credited his parents with doing everything possible to support him and his siblings, even as basketball schedules became increasingly demanding.
The family’s commitment helped Cole move from local youth basketball in Rhode Island to becoming one of the highest-rated high school prospects in the country.
Cole Swider’s Mother: Jenny Swider
Cole Swider’s mother, Jenny Swider, was also an accomplished basketball player.
Jenny played college basketball at the University of New Hampshire and served as team captain during her senior season.
Her experience made her another important basketball influence within the Swider household.
Jenny’s connection to the sport did not end with her own college career. All four of her children eventually pursued basketball, meaning she spent years supporting players at different stages of high school, college and professional competition.
Her daughter Kylie later followed a similar college basketball route, while Courtney and Connor also became collegiate players.
Cole has consistently credited both of his parents rather than a single family member when discussing the sacrifices made on behalf of the Swider children.
Why Does Cole Swider Wear No. 21?
No. 21 has special meaning within the Swider family.
Cole has explained that it is a family basketball number. Both his mother and father wore No. 21 during their college basketball careers, and his sister Kylie also wore the number during college.
Cole has therefore continued using the number during several stages of his own career.
What might appear to fans as a simple jersey choice is actually a connection between multiple generations of the Swider family’s basketball history.
Who Are Cole Swider’s Siblings?
Cole Swider has three siblings: two sisters, Kylie and Courtney, and one brother, Connor.
Basketball is the common thread connecting all four children.
Kylie played Division I women’s basketball at Villanova and Stonehill, Courtney has played at Richmond and Wofford, and Connor joined Youngstown State’s men’s basketball program.
That makes the Swiders an unusual family in which both parents and all four children have played competitive basketball.
Kylie Swider
Kylie Swider is Cole’s younger sister and one of the best-known members of the family because of her own Division I basketball career.
Born on July 17, 2001, Kylie grew into a 6-foot-4 forward and center.
She attended Tabor Academy, where she became an accomplished basketball and volleyball player. During her senior basketball season, she averaged approximately 17 points and 12 rebounds per game.
Kylie then followed Cole to Villanova University, although Cole transferred to Syracuse before his sister completed her Wildcats career.
She spent four seasons at Villanova and earned a bachelor’s degree in communications.
Kylie then used an additional season of eligibility at Stonehill College during the 2024-25 campaign while pursuing a master’s degree in marketing.
Her Stonehill season produced some of the strongest performances of her college career, including a 27-point, 16-rebound game against Chicago State.
Kylie has remained involved with Cole away from college basketball as well. She serves as a coordinator for the Cole Swider Basketball Camp in Rhode Island, helping her brother give back to the community where the family grew up.
Cole and Kylie Swider’s Villanova Connection
Cole and Kylie share a particularly strong connection to Villanova.
Cole played three seasons for the Wildcats before transferring to Syracuse, while Kylie spent four years with Villanova’s women’s basketball program.
That connection made Villanova an important part of the family’s basketball history.
The siblings also share their parents’ No. 21 basketball tradition, reinforcing the way different generations of the Swider family have remained linked through the sport.
Courtney Swider
Courtney Swider is another of Cole’s younger sisters and is also a Division I basketball player.
Like Kylie, Courtney developed into a 6-foot-4 forward and attended Tabor Academy.
She began her college career at the University of Richmond, where she was part of the program during one of the most successful stretches in school history.
Courtney later transferred to Wofford College.
During the 2025-26 season, she appeared in 26 games for the Terriers and contributed as a rebounder and interior player.
Wofford lists Courtney as a senior forward on its 2026-27 roster.
Her official biography identifies Cole as her athlete role model, demonstrating how much her oldest brother’s basketball success has influenced her.
Courtney Swider Followed the Family Basketball Tradition
Courtney’s basketball career makes the Swider family’s athletic background even more unusual.
Her father played college basketball. Her mother played college basketball. Her grandmother played college basketball. Her older siblings Cole and Kylie played Division I basketball, and her younger brother Connor also reached the Division I level.
Courtney therefore grew up surrounded by people who understood the demands of competitive basketball.
She also played volleyball in high school before focusing on college basketball.
Although Cole has reached the highest professional level in the family, Courtney has continued building her own athletic and academic path.
Connor Swider
Connor Swider is Cole’s younger brother and the youngest publicly documented member of the Swider family.
Like Cole, Connor developed into a tall forward with a strong outside shot.
He attended Worcester Academy and became known as one of the better shooters in the New England high school basketball scene.
During his senior season, Connor averaged approximately 12 points, six rebounds and three assists per game while shooting 52 percent from three-point range.
Youngstown State listed him at 6-foot-9 and 200 pounds after he joined the Penguins for the 2025-26 season.
The program planned to redshirt Connor during his first college season, giving him additional time to develop physically and adjust to Division I basketball.
He majors in communications, another similarity with Cole, who graduated from Syracuse with a communications degree.
All Four Swider Children Played Basketball
Few families can match the Swiders’ basketball participation.
Cole became an NBA and EuroLeague player.
Kylie played at Villanova and Stonehill.
Courtney played at Richmond before transferring to Wofford.
Connor entered Division I men’s basketball at Youngstown State.
The siblings followed parents who had already played college basketball themselves.
That environment meant basketball knowledge, competition and shooting were constantly available while the children were growing up in Rhode Island.
Who Is Cole Swider’s Grandmother Peggy Matteson?
Cole Swider’s basketball roots extend another generation through his grandmother, Peggy Matteson.
Matteson played college basketball at the University of Rhode Island.
That means at least three generations of Cole’s family have participated in college or professional basketball.
The family legacy includes Peggy at Rhode Island, Jeff at Fordham, Jenny at New Hampshire and the four Swider children at several NCAA programs.
The family’s long connection with basketball helps explain why the sport became such a natural part of Cole’s upbringing.
Cole Swider Grew Up in Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Cole Swider was born and raised in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and remains closely connected to the area.
His earliest basketball experiences came on Aquidneck Island, including time at the Newport YMCA and in Portsmouth youth basketball.
He later attended St. Andrew’s School in Barrington, Rhode Island, where he emerged as one of the country’s leading high school prospects.
During his junior season, Swider averaged approximately 26.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game and was named Rhode Island’s Gatorade Player of the Year.
His performances attracted scholarship offers from major college programs before he ultimately chose Villanova.
Cole Swider’s Family Supported His Transfer From Villanova to Syracuse
Swider’s college career did not initially develop the way he expected.
He spent three seasons at Villanova but struggled to establish a consistently large role despite showing significant shooting ability.
After his junior season, he entered the transfer portal.
His parents supported the decision, and Swider eventually selected Syracuse University.
The transfer became a major turning point.
Swider started all 33 games for Syracuse during the 2021-22 season and averaged 13.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while shooting better than 40 percent from three-point range.
He scored a career-high 36 points against North Carolina and demonstrated the shooting ability that would become his greatest attraction to professional teams.
Cole Swider Went Undrafted Before Joining the Lakers
Swider entered the 2022 NBA Draft but was not selected.
His professional opportunity came immediately afterward when the Los Angeles Lakers signed him to a two-way contract.
He spent his rookie season moving between the Lakers and their G League affiliate while developing as a professional shooter.
That began a career that would take Swider through several NBA organizations.
Cole Swider Played for Miami, Detroit and Toronto
After his first Lakers stint, Swider joined the Miami Heat organization.
He produced some of the best basketball of his professional career with Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, averaging nearly 25 points per game during part of the 2023-24 season.
Swider later signed a two-way deal with the Detroit Pistons and spent time with their G League affiliate.
During the 2024-25 season, his career also included a stint connected to the Indiana Pacers before he later received an opportunity with the Toronto Raptors.
The constant roster movement demonstrated the challenge faced by specialist shooters trying to establish permanent NBA roles.
Cole Swider Played for Anadolu Efes
Swider made a major career change for the 2025-26 season when he signed with Turkish powerhouse Anadolu Efes.
The move gave him an opportunity to compete in both Turkey’s domestic league and the EuroLeague, one of the strongest basketball competitions outside the NBA.
Swider appeared in 30 EuroLeague games and shot an impressive 48.1 percent from three-point range while averaging 5.3 points in limited minutes.
He also appeared in 21 Turkish league games.
Anadolu Efes and Swider eventually separated after the season, leaving him free to pursue another NBA opportunity.
Cole Swider Represented the United States in 2026
Before returning to NBA training camp, Swider was selected to represent the United States during the August 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifying window.
He made a major impact in two games.
Swider scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Chile before producing 18 points and eight rebounds against Colombia.
Across the two qualifiers, he averaged 18.5 points and eight rebounds while making seven of his 10 three-point attempts.
The performances helped keep Swider on the radar of NBA organizations following his season in Europe.
Cole Swider Returned to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2026
In September 2026, Cole Swider returned to the organization where his NBA career originally began.
The Los Angeles Lakers signed Swider to an Exhibit 10 contract on September 27, 2026.
The agreement brought the Rhode Island sharpshooter into Lakers training camp and preseason while giving him an opportunity to compete for a roster position.
An Exhibit 10 contract is non-guaranteed, so Swider’s presence with the Lakers should not be confused with a guaranteed regular-season roster spot.
As of now, NBA.com lists Swider as a Los Angeles Lakers forward while he competes during the preseason period.
Family Remains Central to Cole Swider’s Life
Despite the many teams and countries involved in his basketball career, Swider has repeatedly emphasized the importance of his family.
His NBA media biography has described his relationship with his family as his most prized possession and credits Jeff and Jenny as major difference-makers in his life.
That connection is visible through basketball itself.
His parents played the sport, all of his siblings played competitively, his grandmother played in college and No. 21 became a number connecting several family members.
Cole has also returned to Rhode Island to organize youth basketball camps, with sister Kylie directly involved in operating the program.
For Swider, basketball has therefore become more than a profession. It is a sport connecting multiple generations of his family and the Rhode Island community that helped raise him.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cole Swider’s Family
Who are Cole Swider’s parents?
Cole Swider’s parents are Jeff and Jenny Swider. Both played college basketball, with Jeff spending one season at Fordham and Jenny playing at the University of New Hampshire.
Who is Cole Swider’s father?
Cole Swider’s father is Jeff Swider, a former Fordham basketball player who later built a professional career in business, sales and telecommunications.
Who is Cole Swider’s mother?
Cole Swider’s mother is Jenny Swider. She played college basketball at New Hampshire and served as team captain during her senior season.
Does Cole Swider have a girlfriend?
As of now, Cole Swider has not publicly confirmed having a girlfriend, and no reliable recent source identifies a current romantic partner.
Is Cole Swider married?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Cole Swider is married or engaged.
Does Cole Swider have children?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Cole Swider has any children.
How many siblings does Cole Swider have?
Cole Swider has three siblings: sisters Kylie and Courtney Swider and brother Connor Swider.
Who is Cole Swider’s sister Kylie?
Kylie Swider is a former Division I basketball player who spent four seasons at Villanova before completing her college career at Stonehill. She is also involved with Cole’s basketball camp in Rhode Island.
Who is Cole Swider’s sister Courtney?
Courtney Swider is a 6-foot-4 college basketball forward. She began her career at Richmond and currently plays for Wofford.
Who is Cole Swider’s brother Connor?
Connor Swider is a basketball player who joined Youngstown State after attending Worcester Academy. He is a 6-foot-9 forward and redshirted during the 2025-26 season.
Did Cole Swider’s parents play basketball?
Yes. His father Jeff played at Fordham University, while his mother Jenny played at the University of New Hampshire and was a team captain.
Did Cole Swider’s grandmother play basketball?
Yes. Cole’s grandmother Peggy Matteson played college basketball at the University of Rhode Island.
Why does Cole Swider wear No. 21?
Swider has described No. 21 as his family number. Both of his parents wore 21 while playing college basketball, and his sister Kylie also wore it during her college career.
Where is Cole Swider from?
Cole Swider is from Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He was born there on May 8, 1999, and remains closely connected to the local basketball community.
What is Cole Swider’s full name?
His full name is Cole Alexander Swider.
Where did Cole Swider play college basketball?
Swider spent three seasons at Villanova before transferring to Syracuse for his final college season in 2021-22.
Was Cole Swider drafted into the NBA?
No. Cole Swider went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft before signing his first professional contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Did Cole Swider play in the EuroLeague?
Yes. Swider played for Anadolu Efes during the 2025-26 season and appeared in 30 EuroLeague games.
What team does Cole Swider play for now?
As of now, Cole Swider is with the Los Angeles Lakers on an Exhibit 10 training-camp contract signed on September 27, 2026. Because the contract is non-guaranteed, he is competing for a regular-season roster opportunity.

Orlando Bloom is a sports journalist and analyst specializing in in-depth NBA coverage, tactical breakdowns, and advanced player analytics. With a passion for professional basketball, he covers everything from trade deadline maneuvers and Draft prospects to team strategies and league-wide trends. Combining detailed stat analysis with game context, Orlando delivers sharp insights and compelling stories for avid basketball fans and casual followers alike.
