Kristin Mills Caldwell: Dual Sports Star Turned Visionary Coach

Kristin Mills Caldwell's impact on Delaware sports is undeniable, with a career that includes multiple sports and numerous accolades. From a record-breaking high school basketball career to now serving as head coach at Caravel Academy Baseball, her journey in athletics has been defined by passion and leadership.

Caldwell's athletic journey began as a young girl, playing little league baseball. When asked what drew her to basketball and baseball, she credited her family for her love of both sports.

"One of my sisters played baseball and the other played softball," Caldwell said. "A lot of girls play baseball when they are young, and then switch to softball because they maybe had a bad experience on a team."

While attending Caravel Academy in Bear, Del., she made history as the first female high school basketball player in state history to surpass 2,000 career points, finishing with an impressive 2,131. This was a monumental accomplishment, but at the time, she found the attention to be a bit overwhelming.

"It was cool to be the first, but all the attention was kind of embarrassing," she admitted.

However, what stood out to her was the amount of excitement people felt for the team.

"The gym that night was packed," Caldwell remembers. "You couldn't find a seat anywhere, and I felt proud to play in front of that crowd."

Adding to her high school achievements, she earned First Team All-State honors three times on the boys' baseball team, helping it win the 1998 state championship.

After graduating from Caravel, she continued her athletic career at the University of Delaware, playing on the women's basketball team from 2000 to 2003. She played a key role in the team's America East Championship and NCAA tournament appearance in 2001, as well as back-to-back Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) appearances in 2002 and 2003. She appeared in 19 games and made two starts in her UD career. Her time at Delaware added to her competitive spirit, shaping the coach she would later become.

Beyond her college and high school success, Kristin played for the first USA Women's Baseball Team, where she was the winning pitcher in the gold medal game at the first Women's World Cup.

"It was incredible," she recalls. "After high school, I didn't know if I would have the opportunity to play again. Having my sister, Bonnie, on the team, made it more special."

After her playing career, Kristin knew she wanted to coach. She returned to Caravel in 2005 as a middle school social studies teacher and became an assistant coach to both the baseball team and the girls' basketball team. Her sister Sarah also coaches field hockey and girls' lacrosse at Caravel.

"I had to find my way back to Caravel; those were the best years of my life," Caldwell said. "I wanted to give back."

Her coaching philosophy is deeply influenced by her experiences as a player, as well as working under former Caravel baseball coach, Paul Niggebrugge, whom she considers her mentor.

"I wanted to be a coach who makes every kid feel important. It's about having relationships with them beyond just baseball," she said. "I want to pass along the passion and make sure they understand the history of Caravel Baseball."

As a female head coach in a traditionally male-dominated sport, Kristin has not faced the challenges many might think and emphasized how great the people at Caravel have been working with her.

"Caravel is amazing," Caldwell said. "Other coaches at other schools have been great. I just want to create opportunities for my players."

Her experience playing boys' baseball has certainly helped her prepare for this role.

"Being in a baseball dugout is normal to me. The more experiences you have, the more you can learn," she added. "I'm always looking for ways to stay current, especially when it comes to arm health and keeping our players healthy."

Kristin's contributions were recognized in 2017 when she was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame.

"I was so surprised. My reaction was basically, 'Oh really?' But it made me feel proud," Caldwell said. "My parents were there, my son got to see it, and so many people from Caravel came out to support me."

Caldwell hopes her players take more than just athletic skills from their time playing under her.

"I want them to love what they do and understand the importance of teamwork and commitment," she explained.

With the new baseball season approaching, Kristin is focused on helping her time improve each day.

"We've got an experienced pitching staff, and I want to keep challenging and developing the team as players," she said, acknowledging the team effort that goes into coaching a team.

She's also excited to implement new coaching strategies, including more competitive bullpen sessions and live at-bat situations.

"We're going to be more aggressive and give our players more opportunities to compete," Caldwell said.

As for her future in coaching, she remains committed.

"I plan on coaching for the foreseeable future," she said. "I want to be there to see my son play in college. I'd love to be home with my dogs, but coaching is exactly where I want to be."

Caldwell returns to her alma mater on Saturday to throw out the first pitch at the University of Delaware baseball game against Penn at Bob Hannah Stadium. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. and tickets can be purchased here.

"We are looking forward to having UD alum and former student-athlete Kristin Mills Caldwell throw out the first pitch this Saturday as part of Women's Empowerment Day," Head Baseball Coach Greg Mamula said. "Kristin's baseball story as both a player and now coach is inspirational. We are proud of Kristin and her accomplishments."

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Kristin Mills Caldwell: Dual Sports Star Turned Visionary Coach

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