Olivia Mills begins her first season as a member of the women’s soccer coaching staff at Stetson. Mills erves as Stetson’s goalkeeper coach.
“We feel very fortunate to be able to have secured a former player and an up and coming coach and person of Olivia’s abilities and character so late in the hiring cycle,” said Khettry. “We wanted someone who could train and develop relationships with our goalkeepers, be able to travel with us and attend training daily and give our goalkeepers the daily attention they deserve. I’m excited about how our program will improve this season and I’m very happy that she can be here from day 1 of preseason.”
A 2015 graduate of Valdosta State with a degree in Exercise Physiology, Mills spent four seasons in goal with the Blazers, helping lead VSU to the 2014 Gulf South Conference championship and three consecutive (2012-14) NCAA Division II tournament appearances. A team captain, Mills was a first-team all-region selection as a senior and earned all-conference honors three times. She was also named to the Gulf South’s all-academic team as a sophomore, junior and senior.
“I am extremely excited to be a new staff member of Stetson women’s soccer,” said Mills. “I know that I will be surrounded by great coaches who are willing to invest in my development and helping me to become an asset for this program. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and playing experience with the players and to the traditions and aspirations that continue to push this program to be great.”
A native of Colorado Spring, Colo., Mills put her degree to good use this summer as a strength and conditioning intern at Colorado State, where she assisted in coaching student-athletes in all aspects of summer workout programs.
“When we were looking to add an assistant, we wanted someone who could work with our heart-rate monitor technology and be able to help us with best using the data,” said Khettry. “While Olivia will get experience in other aspects of being an assistant coach, those were key areas of need for us. Olivia not only has the ability to do those things, she brings some important intangibles which should help our players continue in their development. She was a leader and a competitor as a player, she has practical experience in the weight room and an Exercise Physiology degree and she has the passion and desire to want to be a coach.”
Mills left a lasting impression on her head coach at Valdosta State, Rebecca Nolin.
“Olivia is a very driven young lady who works very well in both team and individual environments,” said Nolin. “She is very good at problem solving and takes initiative when situations arise and will not hesitate with providing her ideas either. Her expectations and high standards to be the best at everything give her the utmost respect from her peers. There is no doubt that a very big part of the Valdosta State’s soccer program’s success was due to Olivia’s ability, commitment, passion and goal-setting. I have no doubt Olivia will be an asset to the women’s soccer program at Stetson.”
Mills is a native of Colorado Springs, Colo.
