Recent Virginia Tech graduate Emma Inch has been named to the University of Miami women’s swimming coaching staff as a coaching fellow for the 2024-2025 season.
While the Hurricanes’ swimming program is only a women’s sport at Miami, Inch’s addition to the staff marks the only female on an all-male coaching staff; she will be the first female coach the program has seen since the 2020-2021 season.
Miami still lists Zach Hinsley as an associate head coach with the program, and declined to answer whether Inch is a supplement to Hinsley or a replacement on the staff.
“I am so excited to be here,” Inch said in the official announcement. “I think there’s something to be said about being a part of a program on the rise. That’s something that really energizes me and our whole coaching staff. I’m excited to be a part of this. Coming off of last year’s historic year at Miami, I think this can be something special and I can’t wait to play a part in its growth.”
A native of Farmington, Michigan, Inch completed her first two years of undergraduate studies and collegiate swimming at Michigan State University before the swimming and diving programs were cut from the athletics department. She transferred to Virginia Tech, where she was a key contributor for the Hokies both in the pool and in the classroom.
Inch transferred to Virginia Tech to finish her undergraduate studies, receiving a bachelor’s degree in communications. She used her final 3 seasons of eligibility, including a COVID 5th year, at Virginia Tech, where she competed for two seasons and earned her master’s degree in leadership studies in May of 2024.
A butterfly and IM specialist, Inch was selected for the All-ACC Academic honors and was a two-time recipient of the “Top 6 for Service” award from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Also during her time as a Hokie, Inch captured the Hokie Spirit Award, served as vice president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was selected for the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.
Andy Kershaw, Miami’s head swimming coach, expressed his enthusiasm for Inch to join the coaching staff in Coral Gables.
“We are very excited that Emma will be putting The U on. She is bringing a lot of energy and passion for impacting the women on this team,” Kershaw said. “Her experience as both an ACC and B1G swimmer will be a great resource. Our anticipation for building on our recent progress is at its height and Emma will be a great piece to that puzzle. I am also excited to have the opportunity to launch her into her collegiate coaching career.”
