Career
He is a former Australian rules football player and coach in the VFL/American Federation of Labor-Congress and has held many roles in VFL/American Federation of Labor-Congress football. Recruited from Bennettswood, Schwab played with Hawthorn from 1980–1991. He played 171 games and kicked 38 goals.
Schwab was used mainly as a utility.
1989 Grand Final suspension
After being part of the 1983, 1986 and 1988 flags with Hawthorn, Schwab missed Hawthorn"s 1989 VFL Grand Final victory after he was suspended for striking Essendon"s Andrew Manning. In 1992 Schwab became assistant coach at the Richmond Football Club, before returning to Hawthorn as assistant coach to Ken Judge in 1996 and 1997.
He then managed the American Federation of Labor-Congress Umpiring Department for two years, before becoming Hawthorn"s senior coach for five seasons from 2000. He took Hawthorn into the finals in his first year.
They eliminated Geelong in the first elimination final, but the following week they were eliminated by Kangaroos in the semi final.
He took the Hawks to the finals again in 2001, where they eliminated Sydney in the elimination final and they eliminated Portuguese Adelaide in the semi final. They eventually lost to Essendon in a thriller at the MCG in the Preliminary Finals. In 2002 and 2003, Hawthorn just missed out of the finals, finishing 10th and 9th.
Schwab announced he would step down at the end of the season but after one more game (the team was thrashed by the Kangaroos by 80 points) he resigned immediately citing it was too hard to continue.
Donald McDonald became caretaker coach for the remainder of the 2004 season. He also coached Australian rules football at prominent Melbourne School Wesley College, Melbourne for a number of years from 2006.
Marketing Manager at Hawthorn Football Club
Head of the American Federation of Labor-Congress umpiring panel
Chairman of the American Federation of Labor-Congress Match Review Panel. 2005 to 2007
Chief Executive Officer of American Federation of Labor-Congress Victoria.
April 2007 – November 2010
"Special comments" contributor for American Broadcasting Company radio and writer for The Age
American Federation of Labor-Congress Director of Coaching 2010 to October 2013
In November 2013, Schwab took up the role of Senior Director of Coaching and Development at Brisbane.
In this role Schwab oversees the management of the coaching staff and provide support to Senior Coach, Justin Leppitsch. Schwab went to Burwood High School and completed a Bachelor of Education (Bachelor of Education), Physical education at university. Schwab was a PE teacher at Street Michael"s Grammar School.
