Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Mitchell Hired as Head Coach at Occidental
9/20/2019 12:23:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
After three seasons with the Wildcats, Davidson assistant swimming coach Haley Mitchell has been named head coach at Occidental College in Los Angeles, the NCAA Division III program announced this week.
Davidson head coach John Young said Occidental "crushed this hire."
"My time at Davidson has exceeded all expectations, and I expected it to be great," said Mitchell. "The community here has been welcoming, kind and full of fun."
Prior to joining the Davidson staff, Mitchell spent two years coaching at Army. She also spent three years coaching at Division III Kenyon College and was a volunteer assistant at Ohio State, her alma mater.
"My excitement for Haley to have this opportunity is exceeded only by my confidence in her ability to excel as a head coach and my gratitude for the impact she's had on Davidson's scholar-athletes and on me," said Young. "She is more than a terrific coach. She is a dependable and honest mentor and friend to the students in her charge. She has been an indispensable collaborator for more than three years as a Wildcat, and I am honored that maybe her time at Davidson helped prepare her for this new opportunity. Though the Wildcats will miss her a lot, we'll be Haley Mitchell fans forever."
During her four-year career at Ohio State, Mitchell helped the Buckeyes set program records in the 200-yard medley and 400 freestyle relays. She was a four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete, was named Academic All-Big Ten three times and graduated in 2010. She earned her master's degree in 2014.
Mitchell spent the 2017 summer as the head coach of the junior national swim team at the World Maccabiah Games in Israel as the team won 26 medals.
Mitchell said working at Davidson for Young has been a privilege.
"His commitment to each athlete's growth in and out of the pool is inspiring, and I've learned a great deal from working alongside him," she said. "He has generously entrusted me with coaching, training and administrative responsibilities that have given me the confidence to be a head coach at Oxy."
Davidson head coach John Young said Occidental "crushed this hire."
"My time at Davidson has exceeded all expectations, and I expected it to be great," said Mitchell. "The community here has been welcoming, kind and full of fun."
Prior to joining the Davidson staff, Mitchell spent two years coaching at Army. She also spent three years coaching at Division III Kenyon College and was a volunteer assistant at Ohio State, her alma mater.
"My excitement for Haley to have this opportunity is exceeded only by my confidence in her ability to excel as a head coach and my gratitude for the impact she's had on Davidson's scholar-athletes and on me," said Young. "She is more than a terrific coach. She is a dependable and honest mentor and friend to the students in her charge. She has been an indispensable collaborator for more than three years as a Wildcat, and I am honored that maybe her time at Davidson helped prepare her for this new opportunity. Though the Wildcats will miss her a lot, we'll be Haley Mitchell fans forever."
During her four-year career at Ohio State, Mitchell helped the Buckeyes set program records in the 200-yard medley and 400 freestyle relays. She was a four-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete, was named Academic All-Big Ten three times and graduated in 2010. She earned her master's degree in 2014.
Mitchell spent the 2017 summer as the head coach of the junior national swim team at the World Maccabiah Games in Israel as the team won 26 medals.
Mitchell said working at Davidson for Young has been a privilege.
"His commitment to each athlete's growth in and out of the pool is inspiring, and I've learned a great deal from working alongside him," she said. "He has generously entrusted me with coaching, training and administrative responsibilities that have given me the confidence to be a head coach at Oxy."
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