Meet the Coaches
Coaching Available on Every Campus
Our Academic Success Coaches are available to meet virtually with all students, regardless of campus.
Zach Thrift - Oconee Campus
Zach joined the University of North Georgia in the fall of 2019. He has a Bachelor Degree in Christian Ministries from Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Georgia. He has extensive experience in the world of higher education and specifically student affairs. Prior to working at UNG, Zach spent over six years working within the Technical College System of Georgia.
Zach takes a holistic approach to working with students and has been specifically trained under the co-active coaching model. He approaches every interaction with students with a listening ear and encouraging words. His hopes while an academic success coach at UNG are to assist students with overcoming barriers that arise during their academic journey.
Zach, a Georgia native, is happily married to his college sweetheart, Elise. Together they have two amazing young children and currently reside in Commerce, GA. Outside of work, he enjoys watching/playing sports, being outdoors, movies and reading with a good cup of coffee.
Contact Info:
Phone: 706-310-6332
Email: zach.thrift@ung.edu
Office: 584A
Patrick Miles - Gainesville Campus
Patrick began his role as an Academic Success Coach with the University of North Georgia in the summer of 2019. His professional career includes teaching at the middle and high school levels as well serve as an academic advisor for Georgia State University. He holds his Bachelor of Communication Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Teacher Education from the University of Phoenix.
Trained under the co-active coaching model, helping students visualize their goals and then create an action plan to obtain them is Patrick's passion. He firmly believes success is an intrinsic value each student possesses. His goal as an academic success coach is to help students define their own terms of success and give guidance toward that result.
Patrick moved to Georgia from Alabama in 2010 and is blessed with an amazing wife and two wonderful children. He enjoys traveling and seeing new places with his family, watching college football and spending time in the outdoors.
Contact Info:
Phone: 678-696-2602
Email: patrick.miles@ung.edu
Office: Nesbitt 2104