Moving forward
AG grad Mildren serves as graduate assistant for West Liberty
Noah Mildren had the opportunity to coach and play baseball this past spring and summer.
No, the 2021 graduate of Albert Gallatin Area High School is not performing double duty as a player/coach, but he worked as a graduate assistant coach in the spring at West Liberty University before playing for the Carmichaels Copperheads in the Fayette County Baseball League (FCBL).
Mildren finished his collegiate playing days with the Hilltoppers in 2025, but the school’s head baseball coach, Eric Burkle, offered him the graduate assistant position, as Mildren works to complete his master’s degree.
Mildren has played for the Copperheads for six seasons, and he recently helped the team earn a league-record 15th championship and second in a row.
Despite the enjoyment of playing in the FCBL, Mildren understands that all playing careers must come to an end, but he has a passion for sports, especially baseball, and wanted to do whatever he could to stay active in the game.
“Towards the end of my senior year at West Liberty, I was still up in the air of what I wanted to do in life,” Mildren said. “I always wanted to get my master’s degree. When Coach Burkle offered me the grad assistant job, I took it without hesitation. I wanted to stay around the game because I am a pretty competitive person. Baseball has always been the game I love, and I want to continue with that at a high level.”
Mildren is working towards his master’s degree in sports and community leadership, which should take him two years. He completed his first year as a graduate assistant coach at West Liberty in the spring, and looks forward to his second season with Burkle.
“He (Burkle) has been pretty influential in my life,” Mildren said. “I wasn’t sure how it was going to go working under him, but I had a blast this year, and enjoyed being around baseball and him.”
Mildren believes he has gained experience from all the coaches he has played for and worked with, which began with Ron Popovich in high school.
“Coach Pop was my head coach for all four years at Albert Gallatin,” Mildren said. “One thing that Coach Pop taught me was how to handle failure and hold yourself accountable. I am really thankful for what he taught me.
“I played varsity as a sophomore, but he guided me when it comes to being a leader and focusing on what you could have done better to help the team win. That translates really well when you get into college athletics.”
Mildren had a successful career with the Colonials, but initially struggled in adapting to college life before becoming a starter as a sophomore.
Mildren benefited as a coach and player during his time with Carmichaels in the FCBL, as he was able to learn from Dickie Krause.
“Coach Krause is the man,” Mildren said. “He is a great coach, and he helped me as a player and a coach. He is a great coach, but an even better person. The results he has had in the county league speak for themselves. He is also a very successful high school coach at Carmichaels.”
Mildren’s work at the collegiate level led to him being courted to assist former Colonial Caleb Dempsey at 724 Baseball. Mildren played with Dempsey’s brother, Jarrett, in high school.
“Caleb coached me in high school and Legion, and last summer, he contacted me about helping out at 724 Baseball,” Mildren said. “I started doing lessons this summer. I will have to get back to school on Aug. 17, but it is really fun to watch Caleb and Zach Uhazie work with the kids and teach them the game. They have it going on.”
Mildren will focus this year on completing his master’s degree and coaching at West Liberty, but he would like to stay active in baseball.
“I would love to be a head coach at a college program, but I just want to be around baseball as long as I can go somewhere,” Mildren said. “I want the sport to be a part of my life for as long as possible, and I would welcome an opportunity in any capacity.”