Nate Milne has led the Muhlenberg football program to unprecedented heights since taking over as head coach following the 2017 season.
Nate Milne year by year.pngMilne has an outstanding record of 35-5 in his three seasons, leading the Mules to the Centennial Conference championship, the NCAA quarterfinals and a final ranking in the Division III top 10 all three years. Muhlenberg advanced to the national quarterfinals for the first time ever in 2018 and the NCAA semifinals for the first time in 2019. Milne was named Centennial Conference coach of the year all three seasons.
Milne coached the Mules to their best season ever in 2019. They set a school record with 13 wins and reached as high as No. 4 in the Division III polls. Muhlenberg finished the regular season undefeated for the first time since 2007 and claimed its first outright Centennial Conference title since 2008.
Muhlenberg’s lone loss was to eventual national champion North Central in the NCAA “Final Four.” During their run, the Mules became the first team in Division III history to record shutouts in their NCAA Tournament first- and second-round games.
Milne was named Division III National Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association and Andy Talley Regional Coach of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club.
In Milne’s first season, Muhlenberg went 11-2, tying the school record for wins. Milne became just the second coach in Centennial Conference history to lead his team to a championship in his first season and was named coach of the year by both the CC and the ECAC.
Before becoming head coach, Milne spent three years as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. During that time, the Mules compiled a record of 25-8, averaging 33.3 points and 428.0 yards per game. The 2016 team featured the most prolific offense in program history, setting school records for yards and points in a season and ranking 17th in Division III in scoring.
Milne came to Muhlenberg in 2015 with more than 15 years playing and coaching football at the Division III level. For the previous seven years, he was offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Susquehanna University.
In his first year at Susquehanna, Milne coordinated the Liberty League’s top offense. The following year, he helped the Crusaders to the Liberty League championship and an NCAA playoff berth.
Prior to working at Susquehanna, Milne was an assistant coach for three years at Cortland State, where he coached five All–New Jersey Athletic Conference offensive linemen and one All–NJAC running back during his tenure. In 2006 and 2007, Cortland ranked first in its conference in scoring offense and in 2006 was also first in fewest sacks allowed.
In 2007, Milne was a guest coach with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League and spent their preseason working as an assistant offensive line coach. He also spent one year as an assistant coach at Hamilton College, focusing on tight ends and offensive scouting.
A 2003 graduate of Hobart College with a bachelor’s degree in history, Milne was a four-year letterwinner with the Statesmen, earning first-team All–Liberty League honors twice and playing on Hobart’s first two Division III playoff teams.
Milne and his wife, Kristen, have two young sons, Matthew and Nicholas.