Before she saw the news on Ithaca College’s sports information Web site, Women’s Swimming and Diving Head Coach Paula Miller had no idea she had achieved the 200th win of her 26-year career with the Bombers at a quad meet Nov. 21 at Hamilton College.

“I had no clue,” Miller said. “I don’t pay any attention, but 200 is something I never thought I would reach.”

Miller is quick to give credit for her accomplishment to her swimmers.

“They’re passionate about swimming,” she said. “They love to work hard, they love Ithaca College ... they’re good student athletes too.”

Miller attended college at Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts. There was no women’s swimming program at the college at the time, so during her freshman year Miller swam on the men’s swim team as the only female.

She attended the first Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women Nationals in Normal, Ill., but since she had no team or coach, she tagged along with the Springfield College women’s swimming team. During Miller’s sophomore year, Bridgewater State introduced a women’s swimming team.

“So I can say I was the first woman swimmer at Bridgewater State,” Miller said.

Miller then moved to California to coach for six years at California State University-Sacramento, but the university had to cut the program because of financial struggles. It was then, in 1984, that the position at Ithaca opened up.

“I kind of did it on a whim thinking I would just try it,” Miller said. “Ithaca College has been a perfect fit for me, and I’m very, very lucky.”

Head Diving Coach Nate Brisley said at meets, Miller is always focused.

“She’s a very driven and motivated coach,” Brisley said.

Miller said she tends to be nervous at meets, but now, with help from her assistants, she can sit back more and just watch her swimmers go to work.

“We’ve worked real hard at this, so now it’s their turn at the competition to perform,” Miller said. “I get to evaluate where we need to tweak.”

Instead of constantly yelling directions at her swimmers at meets, Miller said her team is more successful when they’re able to manage themselves.         

“It’s so out of our control, so the easiest way to vent and show support is to cheer,” she said. “I’m a cheerleader.”

Junior Sheila Rhoades said Miller’s coaching tactics have helped her immensely since joining the Bombers.

“I’ve had nothing but success working with Paula as a coach,” Rhoades said. “She keeps our practices fun, but isn’t afraid to work us when she needs to.”

Miller said her success stems from the philosophy behind her coaching.

“I believe a lot in internal motivation,” she said. “I can motivate someone so far, but to put in so many hours and sacrifice so many things, they have to love the sport. They have to love to be able to work hard and know how to be a team player.”

Miller also treats all of her swimmers like adults and expects them to take responsibility for their actions.

“They come in here; they have responsibilities,” Miller said. “They have decisions. I’m not on top of them all the time like a second mom or dad. They have to learn how to accept responsibility. Even during recruiting, when people come in, I let them know that if they need a lot of structure, this isn’t the program.”

Despite her success, Miller said she didn’t think coaching would be a life-long career.

“I thought it was going to be 10 years, a temporary position until I got a real job,” she said. “I found out this is really my life’s passion, and I’m lucky I found the right spot.”

As for the future of her career, Miller said she plans to stay at the college. After winning states last year, Miller said her biggest goal is to get the Bombers back in the top 10 at nationals. Miller said she is confident that this year’s team could achieve those goals.

“This class is very talented,” she said. “I have a feeling this is going to be one of the best.”

Miller said her 200 career wins reflect positively on the college’s swimming program.

“It shows that the program is long-standing,” she said. “It shows that we’re not just a flash in the pan, that we’re here and we’re a solid program.”

Hamilton, Hartwick, Ithaca, SUNY Geneseo 2009 - 11/21/2009