BRADENTON, FL – State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) is proud to announce the appointment of Nick Middleton as the first head coach for the college's inaugural women's cross country program. The addition of women's cross country marks a significant expansion for SCF Athletics, offering local student-athletes a new platform for intercollegiate competition starting in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Middleton, a former international business executive and a distinguished prep runner from Indiana was a 4 time Indiana state champion.  Middleton was the first runner in Indiana history to win the 'triple crown' (1600M, 3200M and cross country (5K) state titles in the same year), the first runner in Indiana history to win the 1600M and 3200M state championship in the same day and also ran the fastest high school 1600m (4:07.47) in the nation his senior year.  Middleton was inducted into the Indiana Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2001.  Nick's success on the track earned him a full scholarship to The University of Alabama where he went on to run 3:46 in the 1500M and competed in the NCAA championships and was a multiyear all SEC Academic All American and a member of Delta Tau Delta social fraternity.  Nick graduated with a B.S. in Business Management & English Literature from the Culverhouse School of Business and also earned an MBA in Finance & Entrepreneurship with honors from The University of South Florida where he was a Ewing Marion Kauffman Fellow. Nick's deep roots in the sport and in business, brings a wealth of competitive experience to the Manatees. Coach Middleton is tasked with building the program from the ground up.

"It is a thrill to be able to announce the appointment of Nick Middleton as the first coach for the newly-formed women's cross country program," said SCF Athletic Director, Nick Cichielo, "Nick's pedigree as cross country runner at the University of Alabama and his vision for establishing a world class program at SCF made him the perfect fit for the position."

As part of the program's launch, SCF Athletics has officially opened recruitment and announced that open tryouts are currently underway. The college is actively seeking dedicated female runners to fill the inaugural roster.

Scholarship opportunities are available for qualified student-athletes, providing a unique path for local runners to pursue their academic and athletic goals simultaneously.

"Starting a program from scratch is a rare and exciting opportunity," said Coach Middleton. "My goal is to recruit a group of foundational athletes who are ready to work hard and set the standard for SCF Cross Country. We aren't just looking for speed; we're looking for character and a drive to compete."