The late Joe Miller, who died unexpectedly earlier in the year, was an outstanding coach and athletic administrator, with his time in North Carolina at New Hanover High School and in the New Hanover County central office. Born in Sewickley, Pa., Miller graduated from Western Carolina University and began his coaching career in Georgia and Florida before a couple years as an assistant football coach at Kansas State. He arrived at New Hanover High in Wilmington in 1974 and was head football coach there for 20 years, compiling a brilliant 186-56-1 mark with nine conference championships. He also coached New Hanover to slow pitch softball state championships in 1975 and ’76. He moved to the central office in New Hanover, serving as county athletic director from 1994 to 2011. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the NCHSAA as well as the Board of the North Carolina Coaches Association and also served a term as president of the N.C. Athletic Directors Association (NCADA) Board. He is a member of the NCADA Hall of Fame and the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame.
July 8, 2019
