Kurt Esser, Seminole State College, contributed to this release

SANFORD, Fla. - Seminole State College has officially named Abbie Millete as the new head coach of the Raider softball program, marking an exciting and symbolic moment in the history of Raider softball. Millete, a former standout player for Seminole State and USC Upstate and more recently an assistant coach at Seminole State, takes over the reins from the legendary Coach Courtney Miller.

"I want to thank Vice President Johnny Craig, Jan (Lloyd-Leslie, Associate VP for Student Development) and Kurt (Esser, Director of Athletics) for giving me this opportunity to take over a program that I love and work for a College that helped me find my calling in coaching," stated Coach Millete.

Millete's journey with Seminole State began on the field as a player, where she quickly made a name for herself as both a player and a student. A magna cum laude graduate of Seminole State, she earned Second Team All-Mid-Florida Conference selection as a freshman in 2014 and a First Team All-Conference and All-State honors as a sophomore in 2015. Following her time at SSC she continued her academic and playing career at USC Upstate in Spartanburg, SC, where she earned 2017 ASUN Second Team All-Conference, 2017 ASUN All-Academic Team, and 2016 ASUN All-Tournament Team playing honors and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

After concluding her playing career, Millete transitioned to coaching, starting at Piedmont University (formally Piedmont College) as a graduate assistant. After completing her MBA in 2018 she began coaching at Tallahassee State (formally Community) College in Tallahassee, FL. 

Her time with the Eagles was spent working in all areas of the game, with a primary focus on pitchers, catchers, and hitters. While at TCC she coached 23 NJCAA All-Academic members, 32 FCSAA All-Academic members, and 40 Panhandle All-Academic members, along with 10 All-Panhandle Conference members, including a Conference Player of the Year and an NJCAA Pitcher of the Week.

Millete was hired in May of 2022 as an assistant coach for Seminole State Softball. In her time as an assistant, she coached 20+ FCSAA All-Academic members, 15+ NFCA All-Academic members, 20+ NJCAA All-Academic members, 15+ All-Citrus Conference members, and numerous FCSAA All-state, NFCA All-Region, NFCA All-Americans. Her primary focus was pitchers, catchers and hitters, but assisted in all areas of the program. 

Now, as she steps into the role of head coach, Millete faces the challenge of following in the footsteps of Coach Courtney Miller, a legend in Seminole State softball. Coach Courtney's tenure was marked by extraordinary achievements, including 1200+ wins, FCSAA tournament appearances, and the development of countless student-athletes who went on to succeed both on and off the field. Miller's legacy is one of excellence, and her impact on the program is immeasurable.

"Taking over from Coach Courtney is an incredible honor and a tremendous responsibility," Millete said. "She has been a mentor to me and so many others, and the foundation she has built here is something truly special. I'm excited to continue the tradition of excellence that she established while bringing my own vision and energy to the program."

For the Seminole State community, Millete's appointment represents both continuity and renewal. As an alumna, she embodies the values and traditions of the program, while also bringing fresh ideas and a new perspective. The transition from Coach Miller to Millete is seen as a passing of the torch, ensuring that the Raiders' legacy of success will continue under Millete's leadership.

"Having Abbie step into this role is the perfect next chapter for Seminole State softball," said Esser. "She knows what it means to be a Raider, and she's ready to build on what Coach Miller accomplished. We're all excited to see where she takes the program."