Alma welcomes new Athletic Director

LOGAN WENZ
GRAPHIC DESIGNER

GRACE MAIN
COPY EDITOR

10/6/2025

The Alma College Athletic Department has recently announced its new Athletic Director, Dr. Phil Miller, who will start on Oct. 15. 

Miller was previously the Associate Director of Athletics for Operations and Facilities at Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania, and before that was the Athletic Director at Rosemont College, also in Pennsylvania. He has worked at NCAA Divisions I, II and III, making him familiar with athletic departments like Alma. 

At Franklin and Marshall, Miller worked to receive a $1.5 million state grant to improve athletic facilities, advised coaches and student-athletes through leadership programs and SAAC (Student Athletic Advisory Committee), started the Athletic Hall of Fame, worked on event management and took part in Diversity and Inclusion projects. 

With his experience, Miller hopes to continue supporting coaches and athletes while facilitating better communication and goal setting within the department. He also emphasized promotion of the “Scots brand.” “…goal will always be to support our coaches and staff, who I already know are great recruiters and mentors of our students. Coming from an operations background, communication and goal-setting will be important in everything we do, along with implementing best practices in our athletic operations, which are important to our success as a department,” said Miller. 

“It will be important to elevate the Scots brand any chance we get by finding ways to tell the stories of our student-athletes and alumni, while also celebrating our success as a department and as a college,” said Miller. 

Miller plans on meeting with coaches and students quickly when he arrives on campus and familiarizing himself with the Alma College SAAC as well. Miller was the SAAC advisor at Franklin and Marshall. 

“My job first will be to listen, and then ask questions to figure out the best way to support our coaches in accomplishing our program goals and to support our student-athletes in developing the experience they want as leaders in this athletic program,” said Miller. 

Regarding student-athlete support, some students are looking for larger turnouts for games and events and opportunities within the athletic fields. 

“I hope to see more of a turn out to both women and men’s sporting events and more support overall. I am excited for Dr. Miller to bring more opportunities to our athletics programs,” said Brooklyn Russell (‘29). 

Miller’s alma mater was the “Fighting Scots” of Edinboro University in Pennsylvania, whose community feel, along with the mascot remind Miller of his undergrad experience. With these similarities, Miller very excited about this next chapter of his professional career. 

“I think we have a unique opportunity to really engage the community and be the school and teams of Alma. I also believe the entire Alma community truly cares about and takes pride in the traditions and history of the college, and I look forward to building relationships and really entrenching myself in Alma,” said Miller. 

“From the time I stepped on campus and began meeting the search committee, coaches, and President Odenwald, it felt like home. I am excited to build on the athletic program at this special place. I believe Alma College, at this moment, has the ability to be one of the premier Division III institutions in the country, and I’m thrilled about the opportunity to serve as the next Director of Athletics at Alma College,” said Miller.