Kathy Milliken announced her resignation as Kalamazoo College's head men's and women's swimming and diving coach today in order to spend more time with her young family. Milliken will continue in her current role until August 15 at which time current assistant Jay Daniels will take over as interim head coach for the 2016-17 season.
Milliken came to Kalamazoo College in 2003 and recently completed her 13th season as head coach of the Hornets. She guided the men's team to three Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) championships while taking the men's and women's teams to the NCAA Division III Championships 11 times each.
"I want to thank all of the athletes that have come through the pool at Kalamazoo College over the last 13 years," Milliken said. "You have been an inspiration to me and have made my time at work fun and rewarding. I will truly miss the family atmosphere that we have created together. I have come to the realization that not only do my children want me at home more often, but that I want to be with them more, too."
During Milliken's tenure, the women's team set 85 varsity records, while the men have recorded new marks 49 times. Those swims also accounted for new conference records 36 times and new NCAA Division III records twice. She coached athletes to 79 All-American performances and three individual NCAA titles. Her men's team placed fourth at NCAA's in 2010, where she was the first female in a men's sport to be awarded NCAA Coach of the Year honors.
The teams have performed extremely well in the classroom as well, earning College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Team Academic Honors during all 13 of her years. She also coached five NCAA Postgraduate scholars and four College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-Americans.
In addition to coaching, Milliken has served as senior woman administrator, assistant athletics director, faculty member and aquatics director.
Jay Daniels, assistant coach this past season, will take over as interim head coach for the 2016-17 season. A 2013 Kalamazoo College graduate and former swim team captain, Daniels assisted at nationally-competitive SUNY New Paltz for two seasons after graduation before returning to Kalamazoo in 2015.
"I am confident that Jay is ready to take this next step in leading the team," Milliken said. "He is passionate about the sport of swimming and diving and Kalamazoo College, having graduated from here in 2013. He is one of the bright stars of the sport's future."
The Kalamazoo College swimming and diving programs have a long history of success with a combined 30 MIAA championships, 15 top-10 team finishes nationally and 14 individual national champions.
