The Milford Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the hiring of Nia’ Brightwell as the new head coach of the Milford Competition Cheerleading Program. Brightwell comes to Milford after a long stint within the schools and community in Lawrenceburg, IN. Her hiring is pending approval by the Milford Exempted Village School District Board of Education.

Since May 2017, Brightwell has served as the Head Varsity Cheerleading Coch and Program Director of the Lawrenceburg High School program. She added the role of Dance Director to her resume in April 2022. Since August 2023, Brightwell has been the Regional Student and Family Services Manager within the IDEA Public Schools. Also a licensed social worker, Brightwell has been the CEO/Owner of Mind Elevation Counseling and Coaching for the past two years.

“We are ecstatic to introduce the next leader of our award-winning competitive cheer program, Coach Nia’ Brightwell,” Milford Director of Athletics Aaron Zupka stated. “Coach Brightwell brings extensive experience in choreography, including as an OASSA judge, and has more than seven years of experience running a competitive cheer program. In addition, her background as a Sports Mental Health Therapist and Licensed Social Worker will be beneficial in helping our athletes grow in all aspects of becoming well-rounded young adults. The pride, prestige, and history of Milford Cheer is unmatched in Southwest Ohio and I'm excited to have Coach Brightwell on board to bring the fire!”

“I am honored to be selected as the head coach of Milford High School’s prestigious three-time national winning competition cheerleading team,” Brightwell added. “I look forward to building on the existing legacy, creating new accomplishments, and achieving new goals with this iconic team, while also focusing on the all-around athlete, sports performance, mental health, team cohesiveness, positivity, and elevation. This is our year Milford Competition Cheer!”

Brightwell also brings extensive experience as a choreographer and judge to her new role. In addition to the experience garnered at Lawrenceburg High, she’s served in coaching roles at Greendale Middle School, Woodlands Elite and Wildfire Elite Cheer Academy.

Brightwell is a graduate of Lawrenceburg High School, Ivy Tech Community College and a two-time graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University where she earned both Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Social Work.

Current Milford Position(s): 
- Boys Soccer Head Coach (2006-Present)
- MHS Mathematics Teacher (2006-Present)

Related School Experience:
- Milford HS Boys Volleyball Head Coach (2010-2013)
- Milford HS Boys Volleyball Varsity Assistant Coach (2008-2009)
- Frisco Centennial HS Boys Soccer Head Coach (2003-2004)
- Pearce HS Boys Soccer Head Coach (1997-2002)
- RL Turner HS Girls Soccer Head Coach (1993-1996)

High School Alma Mater: Pearce High School (Richardson, Texas)

College Alma Mater(s):
- Undergraduate ~ Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)
- Graduate ~ Currently studying at Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH)

High School and College Sports Played:
- High School ~ Soccer
- College ~ Soccer

Honors/Achievements/Awards:
- 2008 FAVC Buckeye Champions and ‘Coach of the Year’ (Boys Soccer)
- 2008 Cincinnati Enquirer ‘Coach of the Year’ (Boys Soccer)
- 2008 District Champions and Regional Finalist (Boys Soccer)
- 2003 District 12-4A Champions (Boys Soccer)
- 2002 District ‘Coach of the Year’ (Boys Soccer)
- 2002 State Semi-Finalist (Boys Soccer)
- 2002 District 10-4A & Region II Champions (Boys Soccer)
- 2001 District 10-4A Champions & Regional Finalist (Boys Soccer)
- 2001 District ‘Coach of the Year’ (Boys Soccer)
- 2001 Jesuit Meinster Champions (Boys Soccer)
- 2000 District ‘Coach of the Year’ (Boys Soccer)
- 1999 District 9-5A Champions & Regional Finalist (Boys Soccer)
- 1998 Jesuit Meinster Champions (Boys Soccer)
- 1996 District ‘Coach of the Year’ (Girls Soccer)

Current Milford Position(s):

• Girls Varsity Volleyball Coach

 

Related School Experience:

• Miami Valley Christian Academy Varsity Volleyball Coach (2004 - 2014)
• Purcell Marian HS Varsity Volleyball Assistant Coach (2002)

 

High School Alma Mater: Anderson High School (Cincinnati, OH)

 

College Alma Mater(s):

• Undergraduate ~ Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH)
• Graduate ~ Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH)

 

High School and College Sports Played:

• High School ~ Volleyball, Basketball, Softball
• College ~ Volleyball, Softball

 

Honors/Achievements/Awards:

• MVCA

OHSAA Div. 4 Sectional Champions - 2014

OCSAA State Runner-Up - 2013

OVAL Conference Champions - 2012, 2013, 2014

OVAL Coach of the Year - 2013, 2014

 

Additional Information:

Amy lives in Milford with her husband Nathan and children Julia and Alayna.

Current Milford Position(s):

- Head Football Coach (2017-present)

- Junior High P.E. Teacher (2017-present)

 Related School Experience:

- Head Football Coach at Elder High School 1987-1996

- Head Football Coach at Fairfield High School 1997-2002

- Head Football Coach at LaSalle High School 2003-2012

- Offensive Coordinator Mount St Joseph University 2013-2016

High School Alma Mater:

- Reading High School 1974 

College Alma Mater(s):

- Undergraduate ~ College of Wooster 1978

- Graduate ~ Marygrove College 2002

High School and College Sports Played:

- High School ~ Football, Baseball, Basketball

- College ~ Football, Baseball

Honors/Achievements/Awards:

- Coach of the Year 1984 - LaSalle Baseball, 1988 Elder Football, 1989 Elder Football, 1991 Elder Football, 1995 Elder Football, 1996 Elder Football, 1999 Fairfield Football, 2010 LaSalle Football, 2017 Milford Football (Cincinnati Enquirer), 2023 Milford Football (ECC)

- At Reading High School earned 2nd Team All City RB 1973, All Ohio Baseball 1974, Selected MVP of the North-South Baseball All Star Game,

- At Wooster earned 1st Team All Ohio Athletic Conference 2nd Baseman 1977

Nicholas Haller, currently a Milford High School social studies teacher and assistant swim coach, will be the school’s next boys head water polo coach, Milford Director of Athletics Aaron Zupka is pleased to announce. Haller’s hiring is pending approval by the Milford Exempted Village School District Board of Education.

Since graduating from Miami (OH) University in 2021 where he was a Division I student-athlete, Haller has been with Milford High School, first as a substitute, then a long-term sub and now as a teacher of Financial Literacy and AP US History in the social studies department. He also recently completed his second season as a swim coach for the Eagles with head coach Megan Stilwell.

“It's a monumental day for the Milford Boys Water Polo program as we announce Nick Haller as our new head coach,” Zupka stated. “Coach Haller has had an illustrious career in the high school, club, and collegiate swimming world and we are excited for him to take his talents to our boys water polo program! He will be a familiar face around campus with already being involved coaching the MHS swim program the last two years. I know he will work diligently to expand the crossover between polo and swimming athletes. At Milford, we have a proud tradition of water polo and Coach Haller will only add to that legacy of excellence.”

While at Miami pursuing his BS in Education, Haller was a four-year member of the RedHawks swimming and diving program. He was a three-time Mid-American Conference All-Academic Team member, while helping the squad to a pair of conference championships. Prior to Miami, he was a multi-time All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference performer and state qualifier at Anderson High School.

“I am beyond excited to begin working with the Milford High School men's water polo team as the new head coach,” Haller added. This is a wonderful opportunity to translate my knowledge and success with the Milford swim team into water polo. It is my desire to push every athlete to be the best possible version of themselves both in and out of the pool. I look forward to working with the team to build on past success and achieve even more in the coming season."

Current Milford Position(s):

• Girls' Soccer Head Coach (2019 - Present)
• MHS NGC Math Teacher (2012 - Present)

 Related School Experience:

• Milford Girls’ Soccer JV-A Head Coach (2015 - 2017)
• Milford Girls’ Soccer JV-B Head Coach (2013 - 2014)
• Loveland HS Girls’ Soccer JV Head Coach (2012)
• Bellingham HS Girls’ Soccer Varsity Assistant Coach (2007 - 2012)
• Bellingham HS Track and Field Assistant Coach (2008)
• Bellingham HS Mathematics Teacher (2007 - 2012)

 High School Alma Mater: Loveland High School (Loveland, OH)

College Alma Mater(s):

• Undergraduate ~ Ball State University (Muncie, IN)

       ~ Trinity International University (Deerfield, IL)

• Graduate ~ Western Washington University (Bellingham, WA)

High School and College Sports Played:

• High School ~ Soccer, Basketball, Track
• College ~ Soccer

Honors/Achievements/Awards:

• Trinity International University (NAIA/NCCAA)          
• Named NAIA Academic All-American Honorable Mention
• Named NCCAA Academic All-American
• Selected 1^st Team All Conference
• Named NCCAA Regional Player of the Year
• Named NCCAA All-American
• Served as Captain of National Championship soccer team
• Selected as the National Tournament MVP
• Ball State University (NCAA Division I)               
• Played in all regular and postseason games
• Selected as Freshman Team Captain

Current Milford Position(s):

• NGC Math Teacher (2017-Present)
• Girls Cross Country Head Coach (2017-Present)
• Junior High Track Coach (2017-Present)

 Related School Experience:

• Girls Cross Country Head Coach (2004-09, 2013)
• Boys Cross Country Asst. Coach (2010-12, 2014-16)

 

High School Alma Mater:

Milford High School (Class of 1999)

 

College Alma Mater(s):

• Undergraduate ~ Northern Kentucky University
• Graduate ~ NA

 

High School and College Sports Played:

• High School ~ Cross Country & Track
• College ~ NA

 

Honors/Achievements/Awards:

• 2008 FAVC Coach of the Year
• Coached 4 individual and 1 team Regional Qualifier
• Coached 1 individual State Qualifier

 

Additional Information:

Matthew resides in Milford with his wife Kim (Milford Class of 2002) and two children Anna and Evan.

I am proud to announce the next leader of our Boys Cross Country program, Mr. Timothy Richmond, pending board approval.

Coach Richmond, who is an Intervention Specialist at the Live Oaks School in Milford, brings a wealth of experience in the cross county world having 23 years of coaching background. He's been an assistant coach for the last 12 years at Lakota West, one of the premier running schools in the GMC and Southwest Ohio. Prior to this experience, he was the head cross county coach at Winton Woods for 10 years. Coach Richmond is an extremely passionate man who excels in building relationships and a positive team culture. His influence and energy will be felt immediately by our runners and in our school community.

When offered the position, Coach Richmond had this to say about the MHS program:
"The Milford Cross Country program has had a great reputation for a long time. I look forward to working with the boys to build upon that strong foundation. The Milford community really supports its high school and its sports teams. I'm very excited about being a part of this community. I'm very grateful for this opportunity. I just can't wait to meet the boys and get started! #WingsUp!"

Coach Richmond is excited about meeting his runners and getting to know you all on a more personal level. In the next week or so, we will be planning an in-person meet and greet (if possible) or coordinating a video call so you can meet Coach Richmond and ask any questions you have about the future of the program. Stay tuned as more information will be coming!

The Milford High School Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the hiring of Kate Schaeffer as the new leader of the Eagles’ Girls Water Polo program. A 2017 graduate of Milford, Schaeffer currently works as an elementary teacher in the West Clermont school district in addition to serving as the Assistant Manager at the Miami Hills Swim and Tennis Club.

“We are ecstatic to bring another Eagle back home to Milford High School,” state Milford Director of Athletics Aaron Zupka. “Coach Schaeffer walked the hallways at MHS as a student and understands what the program means for our inspiring young women who have a great passion for the sport. I'm excited to bring in someone with her background in education who really understands how to develop positive relationships with our student-athletes. Coach Schaeffer's passion, energy, and enthusiasm will resonate with our girls immediately and I'm confident she will take our girls water polo program to new levels of growth and success! It's a proud day to welcome Coach Kate Schaeffer back home to MHS!”

A graduate of Ohio University with a degree in Early Childhood Education, Schaeffer has held various roles at the Miami Hills Swim and Tennis Club in Milford, including swim coach and lesson instructor.

“I am so excited to come back home to coach,” Schaeffer said “This program meant so much to me in high school and I can’t wait to carry that on to new players. Water polo helped to shape me into the person and teacher I am today and I hope to make that same impression on this team! I am thrilled to get started and help others fall in love with the sport! Go Eagles!”

Schaeffer’s hiring will be official upon approval by the Milford Exempted Village School District board.

The Milford Department of Athletics is pleased to announce the hiring of Stacie Vorhees as the new head coach of the Milford Sideline Cheerleading Program. Vorhees is a former assistant coach for the Eagles program and is a second-grade teacher at McCormick Elementary in Milford. Her hiring is pending approval by the Milford Exempted Village School District Board of Education.

Vorhees returns to the Milford program after coaching three seasons from 2020-2023. During her previous tenure, she held the titles of freshman coach and junior varsity head coach and was also an assistant for the competition squad. She helped the Eagles to the 2021 Traditional Cheer National, ran the 2022 Youth Camp and served as the interim head coach for the full program in the Summer of 2022.

During her collegiate days, Vorhees was a sideline and competition cheerleader at the University of Cincinnati. While there, she was the recipient of the Bearcat Award three times for being the squad’s most valuable teammate. She also helped UC to a Game Day Championship. Vorhees also competed previously for the United Allstars Tumbling Academy.

"I am thrilled to have Coach Vorhees leading our Milford Sideline Cheer Program,” stated Milford Director of Athletics Aaron Zupka. “Stacie is a kids-first, relationship-building coach that will pour positivity and excitement into our athletes. She has a tremendous background in the sport including experience in All-Star Cheer and participating in cheering at the Division I level at the University of Cincinnati. She is very familiar with our kids and has coached within MHS for three years recently. Coach Vorhees will bring stability, credibility, strong organizational skills with a clear vision of the future, and immediately rejuvenate our program back to standards that we've all been previously accustomed to. This is a proud day at MHS and rings loudly that our cheer program is back and better than ever!”

“I am overjoyed to step into and embrace the role of head coach at Milford High School,” Coach Vorhees added. “The opportunity to lead and inspire this team, implement strategic game plans, and foster a supportive team spirit is exhilarating. I look forward to bringing my enthusiasm for cheerleading into play, creating memorable experiences, and fostering a sense of unity and achievement. Here’s to the exciting journey ahead and achieving success together on and off the sideline!”