Rifle
- Title:
- Rifle Assist. Coach
Michael Anti has been with the Air Force Academy rifle program as assistant coach since 2010. With over 30 years experience in air rifle, men’s 3x40 rifle and prone rifle, the veteran of the sport brings a wealth of experience in both his military career and as a marksman to the Academy’s rifle program.
Before coming to the Academy, Anti spent 20 years in the U.S. Army and retired at the rank of major in 2008. He joined the Army in January 1988 and was stationed in Korea with the 1/503 IN before being assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) at Fort Benning, Ga., as an international rifle shooter from 1991 to 1994. While at Benning, Anti also received his Airborne Badge and Ranger Tab. In 1994, he was assigned to the 1St CAV DIV at Fort Hood, Texas, and following this assignment Anti was reassigned to the USAMU in 1998.
A four-time Olympian and the 2004 Olympic silver medalist, Anti learned to shoot at a junior club when he was nine so he could hunt with his father, who was also a rifle coach for the Marine Corps and the Naval Academy. He went on to become a four-time All-American at West Virginia University, where he led the WVU rifle team to three NCAA Championships. He graduated with a B.S. in business from WVU in 1987. He also spent 10 years in the Army’s World Class Athlete Program.
A native of Winterville, N.C., Anti now resides in Colorado Springs, Colo., with his wife, Anne and two sons, Matt and Will.
Anti was a 1992 Olympian in men’s 50m prone rifle, 2000 Olympian in men’s three position, earned the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in men’s 3x40 rifle, and a 2008 Olympian in men’s prone. Anti is a two-time World Cup champion and won the silver medal at the 2000 World Cup Finals. Anti has been a member of the United States shooting team since 1981 and has won numerous national championships as well as competing in three Championships of the Americas Games, three World Championship Games, and two Pan American Games winning numerous team and individual medals.
"I am very happy to have Mike on board," said head coach Launi Meili. "Mike was in four Olympics and won a silver medal in the Athens Games in 2004. Now the team has a gold and silver medalist on the coaching staff. There aren’t too many programs that can claim that."
In 2014, Anti was inducted into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame.
"I am humbled and honored to be selected to the WVU Sport Hall of Fame and to be associated with such an elite group of Athletes, Coaches, and Administrators," said Anti.
"The WVU Rifle team has a very strong history of producing outstanding rifle shooters that have excelled in the sport as a team and individually. The WVU Rifle team has won 16 National Championships and 22 Individual Championships, 359 All-American Honors, have had 16 Olympians and won six Olympic medals for the US. I am proud to be a part of that legacy."
