Florida State Hires Athena Miller as Associate Head Coach

Photo Courtesy: Florida State Athletics

Florida State Hires Athena Miller as Associate Head Coach

Florida State on Friday announced the hiring of Athena Miller as associate head coach to the swimming and diving program.

Miller has been an assistant coach for 12 years, spending last year as the associate head coach at the University of Pittsburgh. A job on the staff of head coach Neal Studd is the latest stop in an impressive resume of college jobs.

“I am honored to be part of the tradition here at FSU,” Miller said in a Florida State statement. “Everyone has been so welcoming these last few weeks, making this move an easy and exciting one. Neal and his staff have done wonderful things and we’re optimistic about the future of the program. We’re eager for the start of the season. Go Noles!”

Miller has been coaching for most of the time since graduating from Division III Mount Union in 2008. She has a diverse background of recruiting coordination and having worked with a variety of distance and specialty groups. She’s also earned a master’s degree in psychology and an MBA.

Miller started as an assistant at Malone University in Ohio, which established a varsity program in 2009-10. She went on to spent three years as the head coach of the men’s and women’s programs at Defiance College before making the Division I jump.

Miller spent the 2015-16 season as an assistant coach at Duke University, working with a sprint group that included 50 freestyle school record-holder Maddie Rusch and helped seven men and seven women qualify for NCAAs. She was at Dartmouth College in 2016-17 before spending four seasons at the United Air Force Academy.

At Air Force, Miller helped guide three Mountain West Senior Swimmers of the Year, among 17 all-conference honorees and six school record-holders. The 2019-20 Falcons won 13 duale meets, the program’s highest since 2016.

“We’re really excited to have Athena join our staff,” Studd said. “Her passion is unmatched, and she brings incredible leadership and professionalism to our team. Given her experience, that’s something we can lean on. We’re looking forward to working closely with her.”

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