With less than a month until their season opener, Milligan’s nationally ranked swim teams are without both a head and assistant coach following the recent departure of their coaching staff.
Head coach Spencer Scarth resigned just one week before the fall semester began, citing family reasons. Scarth and his wife, both originally from Louisville, Kentucky, relocated after she accepted a job opportunity closer to home. He now works in admissions at Bellarmine University.
Assistant coach Tim Stollings also stepped down earlier in the summer and has taken an assistant coaching position at Rollins College in Florida. Stollings has remained in touch with several Milligan swimmers despite the transition.
Both teams—ranked No. 3 (men) and No. 8 (women) in the NAIA—have continued training since their first practice on Sept. 1. Their first competition is scheduled for Oct. 9-10 at SCAD Savannah, with an intersquad meet set for Sept. 27.
Robyn Roszel, a longtime supporter of the program and mother of swimmer Morgan Roszel, has stepped in to oversee practices and meet preparations. A veteran of the club swimming scene, Roszel is working alongside graduate assistant Neely Agnew, strength coach Jake Crumley, volunteers including former assistant coach Megan Williams and alumnus Stephen Gilbert, and the team captains to ensure the season progresses smoothly. Much of the training schedule had already been laid out by Scarth and Stollings prior to their departures.
Athletic Director Christian Pope confirmed a national search is underway for new coaching staff.
“It’s just bad timing,” Pope said. “I know God has someone planned for us, I just wish He’d go ahead and reveal it.”
Pope said the university hopes to fill the vacancies by the end of the month, but acknowledged the difficulty in finding the right fit.
“Being without our coaches at the start of our season has been challenging, but I believe we’re pulling through and making the most of the cards we’ve been handed,” said Virginia Rainer, a nursing major and senior team captain. “We’ve been very fortunate to have Robyn Roszel and Neely Agnew step up as our coaches.”
Nursing major and junior team captain Abigail Jackson said the team is leaning on faith and unity during the transition.
“This time has called us to lean not only on each other but on God as well, putting our full faith and trust into His plan,” Jackson said. “Although this time is one of uncertainty, it’s also an opportunity for our team to build our testimony and truly show that even through times of worry and stress, we have such an incredible team made up of some of the hardest-working people.”
Cover photo: Abigail Jackson swimming (by Spencer Hall)
Photo 1: Robyn Roszel and Morgan Roszel, provided by Morgan Roszel
