Miller Named Head Coach for Softball

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Mitchell College has named Erin Miller as head coach of its softball program.

Miller, a native of Waterford, Conn., will make her head coaching debut with the Mariners. She previously spent the past two seasons as a graduate assistant and pitching coach at Smith College, and prior to that she was a pitching coach for two seasons at the United States Coast Guard Academy.

Miller takes over a Mitchell program that returns nine letterwinners and seven starters from a squad that went 11-22 last season. The Mariners went 4-12 in New England Collegiate Conference play and finished seventh in the league standings.

"I want to thank the Assistant Athletic Directors, Casie Runksmeier and Todd Peretz, as well as the rest of the search committee for selecting me as the next head softball coach," said Miller. "I believe in Mitchell College's mission to provide an individualized, holistic experience for its students and the support within this community is unmatched. I am excited to join the Mariners softball program and look forward to continuing to build upon the success of the program."

Miller joined the Smith coaching staff in August 2017 under the direction of head coach Emily Lopez, assisting in all aspects of the program while focusing on the pitching staff. She got her coaching start in 2015 at Coast Guard under Donna Koczajowski. 

Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Miller enjoyed a decorated four-year playing career at Eastern Connecticut State University where she helped win four Little East regular season titles and a pair of tournament championships. She went unbeaten in league action in 2014 and was named LEC Pitcher of the Year, and a year later she propelled the Warriors to the LEC crown and was tabbed the tournament's most outstanding player. In 75 career appearances she sported an overall record of 36-14 with 153 strikeouts and a 2.79 ERA.

A graduate of Waterford High School, Miller was a three-year starter for a softball program that won a pair of Class L titles. She was named to all-area and all-conference teams in her final season and participated in the CHSCA Senior All-Star Game. 

Miller graduated from Eastern with a degree in sports and leisure management and earned a Master's in exercise and sport studies at Smith.