Haley Mitchell Joins Davidson Swimming and Diving

davidsonphotos.com

DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Davidson swimming and diving gains another mentor with the hiring of assistant coach Haley Mitchell, head coach John Young announced recently.

Along with daily coaching responsibilities, Mitchell will take the recruiting lead for the women's team and will work to bolster the team's social media as well has helping with operational efforts.

"I'm thrilled to have Haley join the Davidson swimming and diving family," Young said. "With energy and authenticity, she has demonstrated a remarkable ability to relate to student athletes, a terrific appreciation for balance and personal growth, and an impressive aptitude for helping swimmers explore their potential. As we strive to continue building on this program's accomplishments, I have every confidence that Haley's experience and approach will offer an advantage to our students."

"I'm thrilled to join the Davidson swim and dive staff," Mitchell said. "I love coaching athletes that are not just passionate about swimming but also academics and life out of the pool. I believe strongly in the culture and values that John has created for the program and I'm honored to be a part of his staff. I can't wait for the 2016-2017 season."

Mitchell joins the Wildcats after two seasons as an assistant at Army West Point, where she was primarily responsible for working with the endurance athletes. Under her guidance the distance swimmers broke all of the individual distance academy records for both men and women and two endurance athletes qualified for and competed in the 2016 Open Water National Championships in Fort Meyers, Fla.

In Mitchell's two years with the Black Knights, the squad finished as Patriot League runner-up for both men and women, broke 21 Academy records, and qualified two athletes for the 2016 Olympic Trials.

Mitchell, like Young, also spent time as an assistant coach at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where she helped guide the men's team to two NCAA National Championships (2013, 2014), the women to two runner-up finishes, and coached seven individual NCAA champions, 13 Scholar All-America recipients and six NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship winners over three seasons. Mitchell helped the Ladies break seven NCAA records, 24 Kenyon varsity records and register four Olympic Trial cuts.

Before her three-year stint at Kenyon, Mitchell returned to her alma mater, Ohio State, as a volunteer assistant. In addition to coaching the Buckeyes' varsity team for the 2010-11 season, Mitchell was also the Platinum level head coach for the Ohio State Swim Club. She also served as an instructor at the Ohio State swim camp in 2009 and with the National Youth Sports Program in 2007-08.

Mitchell boasts many accomplishments from her four-year swim career as a Buckeye. She helped set varsity records in the 200-yard medley and 400-yard freestyle relays. She was a four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and was named an Academic All-Big Ten selection her final three seasons in Columbus. As a senior, Mitchell was named a captain for the 2009-10 season.

The records Mitchell set in the pool enabled her to qualify for USA Swimming's 2010 Senior Nationals. She was also selected to compete for Team USA at the World Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2009, where she won four gold medals and one silver.

The Walled Lake, Mich., native received a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the Ohio State Fisher College of Business in June 2010 and a Master of Science in recreation and sport science in August 2014.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results