Coach Kathy Milliken assumed the coaching duties for both the men's and
women's teams in September 2003 after the Hornet athletic department
decided to combine the programs for the first time in Kalamazoo College
history. Before joining K College, Coach Milliken served as an
assistant at Denison University. During her time at Denison, she
coached the women's team to a NCAA Division III championship, a second
place finish, and a fourth place finish. During those years, the men's
team also faired well at the national championships, placing 5th twice
and 7th once. Coach Milliken has developed a program that combines work
on stroke technique, workouts unique to specialty strokes and distances,
and intense strength and conditioning training. She is currently undertaking
course work toward a Master's degree in Sports Studies at Western
Michigan University to complement the skills she has learned through
coaching at Denison and numerous swim camps around the country.
Before embarking on her coaching career, Coach Milliken worked for a
public relations firm in Seattle, Washington after graduating from
Denison University with a BA in communication and history. While
swimming at Denison she competed at the NCAA Division III championships
all four years, earning seven All-American citations in the process.
Her specialties included breaststroke, IM, and freestyle. Coach
Milliken also acheived the standards set by the NCAA for acheiving
Academic All-American status during her last three years at Denison.
In her first season at Kalamazoo College, Coach Milliken led the men's
team to a second-place finish in the MIAA and an 11th place finish at the
NCAA III Championships. She led the women's team to a third-place finish
in the MIAA. On both the men's and women's teams over 95 percent
of the swimmers had lifetime best swims.
The 2003-04 women's team broke eight school records and won three events at the
MIAA Championships. Three members of the team earned All-MIAA honors. Coach Milliken also
coached the first Hornet woman to qualify for the NCAA III Championships since 1999.
The 2003-04 men's team broke four school records and produced five All-Americans. Four individuals
and five relay teams had top-16 finishes, including one second-place finish, at the NCAA III Championships.
Eight members of the team earned All-MIAA honors and ten won MIAA event championships.
|
