By: Stephen Murphy Photo credit: milliganbuffs.com
After 10 months of coaching, former Head Swim Coach Raymond Weston left the Milligan College swim team on Wednesday, Oct. 16 to advance his coaching career for the Division I school Binghamton University, N.Y.
“Ultimately, I did not plan on leaving for several years, but any time you get a chance to make the jump to NCAA Division I, you cannot turn it down, especially as a young coach,” said Weston.
Coach Weston’s first day coaching at Milligan was Jan. 2, 2013. Being his first head coaching position at a collegiate level, Weston quickly helped get the program on a roll alongside Assistant Coach John (Jes) Sutton. At 10 a.m. Oct. 15, Dean of Students Mark Fox sent a campus-wide email notification stating that Coach Weston would be perusing his career at a higher level, and that former Assistant Coach Sutton would assume the position of head Milligan College swim coach.
Weston began his coaching career as a conditioning coach for his alma mater Nazareth College, near Rochester, N.Y. After his stint of coaching at Nazareth, Weston spent two seasons as a varsity assistant swimming coach for Midlakes High School, in Clifton Springs, N.Y.
Weston expects a challenge as he sets forth to fill the shoes of the previous Binghamton coach who had been there for 10 years. Weston is looking to grow and develop his coaching as he gains experience at a higher level.
“That stamp on my resume that says I have the Division I experience will really help further my career,” he said.
With no direct connections to Binghamton, other than being within mere hours of Weston’s hometown, he is excited to get to work with his new team.
Weston said the Milligan swim team will be left in “great hands” under Coach Sutton. A former coach for the European Forces Swim League, Sutton offers many years of great experience.
Coach Sutton has been involved with the Milligan swim program since the spring of 2010.
“For the past 15 years, I have always taken every opportunity to work with a swim team, either as a coach or officiating,” says Sutton.
He plans to stick to the routine implemented by Coach Weston. With a demanding season schedule, the Buffs set their eyes on the conference meet at Christianburg, Va. in February.
“Our team goal is to take as many as possible to the national competition which will be held in Oklahoma City during the first week of March 2014,” said Sutton.
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