Middlebury has announced the hiring of Elizabeth Harding as the assistant coach for men's and women's swimming and diving. Harding joins the program in a full-time capacity after spending the last year as the strength and conditioning coach for the Panthers.

"We are very excited to have Elizabeth in a full-time position with our program," said head coach and director of the natatorium Bob Rueppel. "Her impact will only grow as we expand her role on all levels."

"I've enjoyed working with the team over the past year and am excited to continue in this new role," said Harding. "The culture of the program is something I value, and I'm proud to have the opportunity to contribute to it."

Last winter, Harding was involved in developing and implementing the dryland training programs aligned with swimming performance and seasonal training demands. She also collaborated with the sports medicine staff to support development and performance while emphasizing movement quality, coordination and force production to support in-water performance.
 
Over the last two years, Harding has served as a swimming coach for the Middlebury Aquatics Club. She has worked with the swimmers with an emphasis on technique, efficiency, endurance and long-term development. 
 
Harding was an instructor of exercise science, anatomy and physiology at the University of Vermont and the Community College of Vermont from 2020 through 2025. She developed applied coursework connecting physiology, movement, injury prevention and health to real-world performance and function. 
 
Harding graduated from California Baptist University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology. She later earned her Master of Science degree in human physiology with a focus in biomechanics from the University of Oregon in 2012. After completing her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in physical education and sport and exercise science from the University of New Mexico in 2018, she served as a program manager for exercise oncology trials at the institution until her relocation to Vermont in 2020. 
 
She is a certified United States of America Swimming Coach, a certified strength and conditioning specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a certified clinical exercise physiologist from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).