Lead Assistant Coach & Team Meet Entryperson
Mickey McNeil has been an Age Group and Senior level Swim Coach since the Fall of 1991 for the Springfield Family YMCA Swim Team (SPY) in Springfield, Ohio. In the fall of 2022, she stepped up to serve as the Interim Head Swim Coach until November 2023.
Previously, she had coached local summer swim club teams from 1982-88 and 91-92. She was a volunteer swim coach for Kenton Ridge High School between 1997-98 and 2008-2012. Currently, she continues as an Assistant High School Coach with Head Coach Heather Shaffer for both Kenton Ridge and Northeastern High Schools since 2014. With her background of education, experiences, trainings, and enthusiasm, she is driven to assist SPY swimmers to achieve great things. Over the years, she has attended various clinics and seminars to enhance her coaching. Though her position at SPY is regarded as a part-time employment, anyone would tell you that her coaching is a fulltime passion and dedication. The coaches of the Southwest Ohio YMCA Swim League have voted her for the “Coach of the Year” award in 2002, 2010, 2011, and 2023. In 2016, Mickey was inducted into the Southwest Ohio YMCA Swim League's Hall of Fame as a coach. In 2019, she was selected as one of the top ten finalist for the Fitter and Faster Swim Cap Tour’s Age Group Coach of the Year and recognized at the 2019 ASCA World’s Swim Clinic’s Awards banquet in Dallas, Texas.
As an Assistant Swim Coach, she has had the privilege to work in coordination with the SPY Team’s past Head Coaches (Larry Figgins, Dave Johnson, Bruce Patmos, and John Bishop) to develop and enhance the Y’s competitive swim program. Each swim season has provided thrilling opportunities with the SPY Coaching Staff to develop young athletes at various levels of success. She embraces the way that the SPY program deeply weaves in the YMCA Values of Caring, Respect, Honesty, and Responsibility for the child’s development with that need for Fun and Joy in swimming. The SPY Swim Team takes pride in our strong alumni group who give back and support to our young athletes.
Mickey along with her brothers and sister first started competitive swimming for the Springfield Pepsi AAU Team before joining the Springfield Family Y Swim. After high school graduation in 1982, she attended Miami University of Ohio where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Education in Physical Education. She taught in the Cincinnati area for a couple of years. In 1993, Mickey expanded her education and career opportunities by attending Central Ohio School of Massage for Therapeutic Massage Education. In 1995, she graduated and became an Ohio Licensed Massage Therapist. She has a thriving massage therapy business in Springfield. From 2006-2021, she was the sport massage therapist for the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Team.
Mickey’s love for coaching is fueled by understanding that a sport like swimming is continuous work, and an on-going process…there is always some aspect to develop, improve, enhance, learn, and enjoy. Yet, the most empowering part of swimming is witnessing kids become Responsible, Caring, Respectful, and Honest individuals with the fire to be competitive athletes.
USA Swimming Certified Coach
TrueSport Certified Coach
American Swimming Coaches Association member, Level I
NFHS level 1 Coach
