Christina Millan has been hired as the new head coach for the Tahoma Bears fastpitch team.

An introductory meeting was held Tuesday for parents and players at Tahoma High School.

Millan isn’t new to the area, she graduated from Auburn High School. After attending Wichita State University, Millan moved back to Washington and lives in Covington with her husband.

This will be Millan’s first year as a head coach

“When I heard the head coach position was available at Tahoma High School I was very interested in having the opportunity to give back to the game that was such a positive influence in my life,” she said in an email interview.

However she is no stranger to coaching. She said during her fifth year at Wichita State, she was a graduate assistant. And she has also spent time as a volunteer coach for the Highline High School boys and girls soccer teams.

When asked how she made the transition from athlete to coach, Millan said, “sports is so much more than just a game.”

“It is a vehicle for life,” she added. “The game teaches you how to handle adversity, overcome obstacles and failures, collaborate with others and enjoy the results of hard work.”

During her time as an athlete, Millan said she had some good coaches and some not so great ones. “In this journey, I realized just how influential a coach could be in an athlete’s life. I want to be the coach that is a positive influence to these young ladies,” she said.

While at Auburn, Millan played both soccer and fastpitch. She received all-league honors for both.

During her time at Wichita State, where she received a full-ride scholarship, she finished her fastpitch career.

“As a former athlete, I know what it takes to be driven and I also know what kind of support they need throughout their journey,” Millan said. “This philosophy, this passion, is what made me want to pursue coaching.”

Even though the season is a few months away, Millan said she hopes “to bring in a fresh perspective with plenty of teamwork and discipline.”

The 2016-2017 season will begin March 15.

“We are very excited to have Christina leading our fastpitch program,” Tahoma Athletic Director Tony Davis said.

Millan joins the Bears following the resignation in September of former head coach Tom Milligan who coached at Tahoma for 12 seasons.

During those seasons with Milligan at the helm, Tahoma was 211-128 and 4A state champions during the 2015 season.