The competition swimming pool in Shippensburg’s Heiges Field House was named the Donald N. Miller Pool in honor of retired Red Raider coach Donnie Miller in 1993. Miller retired after 20 years at the helm of the men’s swimming team. He founded both the men’s and women’s programs.
The natatorium contains a six-lane, 25-yard pool, equipped with electronic timing, and competition spillways. Seating capacity for meets is 200.
Miller produced more national champions than any other swimming coach on the east coast, including those in Division I. Under his guidance, Shippensburg University swimmers won 13 individual national titles and set five national meet records.
Miller was voted Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Coach of the Year four times. He was the first coach to win the award more than once. He was honored nine consecutive years with an Award for Excellence by the American Swim Coaches Association.
Miller coached both the men’s and women’s programs when they began as club teams during the 1971-72 academic year. The programs gained varsity status in 1972-73. Beginning with the 1975-76 season, he coached only the men’s team.
Finishing near the bottom of the conference standings early in the program’s existence, the Red Raiders improved to the point where they finished second in the standings in 1978. That was the first year in a string of 12 consecutive second-place finishes.
Miller’s career dual meet record was 235-69-1 for a winning percentage of .773. But he was more concerned with his athletes winning out of the pool. The team had a graduation rate of 90 percent or higher and all 49 of his All-American swimmers graduated.
A native of Harrisburg and a 1961 graduate of Susquehanna Township High School, Miller lettered in football at Penn State, where he graduated in 1965. He played in the 1962 Gator Bowl. Miller earned his master’s degree from West Chester University in health and physical education, and his doctorate in health education from Penn State. He came to Shippensburg in 1969 as a member of the health and physical education department faculty.
