Michelle Howell serves as an assistant coach and operations manager for the Montverde Academy cross country and track and field programs as well as head coach of the Middle School programs. She has been with MVA since 2022.
A native of West Palm Beach, Florida, Howell brings an accomplished running background to the Eagles, having competed at the high school, collegiate and professional levels.
Howell attended Seminole Ridge High School from 2009-13, where she established school, district and regional records in the 800 meters. She captured the 2013 FHSAA Class 4A state championship and has been nominated for the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame.
She continued her career at Jacksonville University, an NCAA Division I program in the ASUN Conference, where she competed in cross country and track and field from 2014-18. During her collegiate career, she was an 11-time ASUN Conference champion, earned All-America honors twice in the 800 meters and established both ASUN Conference and Jacksonville University program records.
Following her collegiate career, Howell competed professionally for Under Armour from 2018-22 and Tracksmith from 2022-24. Her professional career included appearances at the 2018 USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships and the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. She advanced to the semifinals of the 2019 USATF Outdoor Championships and reached a world indoor ranking of No. 18 in the 600 meters in 2020.
Howell has also competed in longer-distance events, finishing 31st at the 2024 USATF 15K Championships. Her career personal bests include 2:02.26 in the 800 meters, 4:16.72 in the 1,500 meters, 4:36.43 in the mile, 18:09 in the 5K and 20:19.5 in the 6K.
A member of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), Howell earned her bachelor's degree in geography from Jacksonville University in 2017, graduating magna cum laude with minors in marketing and political science. She later earned her Master of Business Administration from Jacksonville University in 2019.
Away from Montverde Academy, Howell volunteers with Girls Run Orlando, a women's running group. She resides in Orlando with her husband, Maxwell Unterhalter, and enjoys spending time with their son and two cats, Enzo and Fio.
