Following a national search, Mike Blakely-Armitage '00 was elevated to head coach of the men's and women's swimming and diving programs in July 2023 and will be entering his third full season at the helm of each program.
The 2023-24 season saw the women's program claim its fifth consecutive Liberty League Championship and the men's program finished as runners-up. The Bombers saw Kailee Payne earn All-Liberty League First Team in both 1-meter and 3-meter diving as she was also named the Liberty League Diver of the Meet and Diver of the Year. At NCAA's she was crowned the Individual National Champion on both the 1-meter and 3-meter boards. The men's program saw James Collishaw achieve All-American status for the third-straight season as he broke his own team record in the 100-yard freestyle with a 43.87 at the 2024 NCAA Division III National Championship, which was good for seventh place and his fifth career All-American finish.
Blakely-Armitage was in the midst of second stint as an assistant coach for the Ithaca men's swimming and diving program having rejoined the programs in 2019. Upon his graduation in 2000, Blakely-Armitage joined the men's swimming and diving staff from 2000 to 2004, while also assisting the women's swimming and diving program in 2004.
During his time as an assistant at Ithaca College, the men's swimming and diving team won its first conference championship in 2001 and went on to win two more during his tenure. At the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, Blakely-Armitage was promoted to associate head coach of both the men's and women's swimming and diving programs.
He helped guide the women’s program to their fourth-straight Liberty League Championship during the 2022-23 campaign where they shined during the four-day conference meet as they totaled 1,619 points holding off Vassar (1,277) and RPI (1,369). The IC men's program finished as runners-up with a team total of 1,538.5 team points as RIT won the Liberty League Championship totaling 1,782.5. The Bombers qualified a combined 14 swimmers and divers that competed in the 2023 NCAA Division III Championships, which saw seven All-American finishes.
The 2021-22 season saw the Bombers win their third-straight Liberty League conference championship, while putting together an 18
th place finish at the 2021-22 NCAA Division III Championships. The men finished second at the Liberty League conference meet, finished 18
th as a team at NCAA's and had three All-American relays, three top eight finishes, and a national champion in Jack Wadsworth who also set the Division III record in the 100-yard backstroke.
Prior to his return to South Hill, Blakely-Armitage served as the head men's swimming and diving coach at Ithaca High School for 10 years (2009-19) as well as the women's head coach from 2015-19. During his time with the Little Red, the men's team had a perfect 72-0 dual meet record and won eight Section IV titles, while notching 17 All-Americans and breaking three state records. The men's team also boasted four individual, three relay state champions and numerous Academic All-Americans during that time. On the women's side, the Little Red compiled a dual meet record of 27-1 and won three Section IV titles.
Mike lives in Ithaca with his wife and three kids. He also likes to play with his puppies and enjoys time in the outdoors and exercising.
8/18/2025
