Post by LongBlade on Oct 22, 2005 17:40:13 GMT -6
Miller still going strong after 38 years at North Carolina
KEITH PARSONS
Associated Press
10/22/05
www.macon.com/mld/macon/sports/colleges/mercer/12967809.htm
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Ron Miller came to the University of North Carolina for a job interview 38 years ago.
The school needed a phyical education professor who had some knowledge of fencing. Miller had just completed his masters degree at Eastern Kentucky, where he started a club program in the sport.
"I knew when I first interviewed that the campus and the students I met were something I would want to be a part of," Miller said. "I wanted to stay here as long as I could."
So he simply never left.
Miller has built one of the top collegiate fencing programs in the country, compiling a record of 888-324 and coaching two future Olympians. He earned coach of the year honors in 1983 and 1986.
And he still teaches those same PE classes he was originally hired to teach, including three this semester on the sport of fencing. Miller is the only remaining coach at North Carolina who still does this.
It's probably a good thing, too - the classes are a prime recruiting ground for future team members.
See, Miller has had no scholarships to offer since 1979, and he very rarely gets help from the admissions department in getting a fencer into school. He builds his team almost exclusively from walk-ons, including some who are fencing for the first time.
This includes students like John Smith. As a junior, he went out for the team on a dare from his roommate. Before his career was complete, he had qualified for the NCAA tournament.
"As long as you give your all, you can make the team and you can go places," said Smith, who graduated in 2001 and credits Miller with helping him get through school. "He taught me every single thing there was about fencing, but it was more than that. He helped with academics and everything.
"He got all that in line for me."
To put Miller's tenure in perspective, he started coaching only six years after Hall of Fame basketball coach Dean Smith. When Smith was given what turned out to be a retirement celebration in the on-campus arena that bears his name in 1997, the school thought it was only fair to honor Miller as well.
His party came nine days after Smith's and included about 150 former fencers, including representatives from nearly every team since 1968.
"The university has always treated me well, and they've given me everything I've asked for," Miller said. "Without that support, this wouldn't be possible."
Throughout the years, he has been approached by other schools hoping to persuade him to leave the Tar Heels. Columbia, Penn State, Air Force (twice) and Ohio State all tried, and one even offered to double Miller's salary.
But he simply couldn't leave. Miller found a home long ago.
"Money is not the object, at least not for me," he said. "I can't ask for a better environment."
Courtney Krolikoski is glad he stuck around. A junior who excels in the epee discipline, she came to North Carolina after meeting Miller at a camp.
"Coach is amazing," she said. "So many other coaches are only worried about how some individuals on their teams do, but he really is very team-oriented. That's one of the reasons I came here."
North Carolina begins its season this weekend at the Penn State Dual Meets, an annual event that draws most of the top programs from around the country. And the longtime coach is excited about this year's team, which features a rarity for him - 12 actual recruited fencers.
Five or six got accepted to school on their own, and he was able to get the rest in with some help from admissions. Either way, it's made for a change in Miller's style.
"We're having to do more coaching this year and not quite as much teaching," he said. "But this is a different team. We're stronger across the board than we have been. Consistency early will be difficult, but I think we'll get there soon."
It sounds as if Miller plans to stick around for a while.
"Coach is just a big kid," Krolikoski said. "It's hard to believe he's been here forever."
KEITH PARSONS
Associated Press
10/22/05
www.macon.com/mld/macon/sports/colleges/mercer/12967809.htm
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Ron Miller came to the University of North Carolina for a job interview 38 years ago.
The school needed a phyical education professor who had some knowledge of fencing. Miller had just completed his masters degree at Eastern Kentucky, where he started a club program in the sport.
"I knew when I first interviewed that the campus and the students I met were something I would want to be a part of," Miller said. "I wanted to stay here as long as I could."
So he simply never left.
Miller has built one of the top collegiate fencing programs in the country, compiling a record of 888-324 and coaching two future Olympians. He earned coach of the year honors in 1983 and 1986.
And he still teaches those same PE classes he was originally hired to teach, including three this semester on the sport of fencing. Miller is the only remaining coach at North Carolina who still does this.
It's probably a good thing, too - the classes are a prime recruiting ground for future team members.
See, Miller has had no scholarships to offer since 1979, and he very rarely gets help from the admissions department in getting a fencer into school. He builds his team almost exclusively from walk-ons, including some who are fencing for the first time.
This includes students like John Smith. As a junior, he went out for the team on a dare from his roommate. Before his career was complete, he had qualified for the NCAA tournament.
"As long as you give your all, you can make the team and you can go places," said Smith, who graduated in 2001 and credits Miller with helping him get through school. "He taught me every single thing there was about fencing, but it was more than that. He helped with academics and everything.
"He got all that in line for me."
To put Miller's tenure in perspective, he started coaching only six years after Hall of Fame basketball coach Dean Smith. When Smith was given what turned out to be a retirement celebration in the on-campus arena that bears his name in 1997, the school thought it was only fair to honor Miller as well.
His party came nine days after Smith's and included about 150 former fencers, including representatives from nearly every team since 1968.
"The university has always treated me well, and they've given me everything I've asked for," Miller said. "Without that support, this wouldn't be possible."
Throughout the years, he has been approached by other schools hoping to persuade him to leave the Tar Heels. Columbia, Penn State, Air Force (twice) and Ohio State all tried, and one even offered to double Miller's salary.
But he simply couldn't leave. Miller found a home long ago.
"Money is not the object, at least not for me," he said. "I can't ask for a better environment."
Courtney Krolikoski is glad he stuck around. A junior who excels in the epee discipline, she came to North Carolina after meeting Miller at a camp.
"Coach is amazing," she said. "So many other coaches are only worried about how some individuals on their teams do, but he really is very team-oriented. That's one of the reasons I came here."
North Carolina begins its season this weekend at the Penn State Dual Meets, an annual event that draws most of the top programs from around the country. And the longtime coach is excited about this year's team, which features a rarity for him - 12 actual recruited fencers.
Five or six got accepted to school on their own, and he was able to get the rest in with some help from admissions. Either way, it's made for a change in Miller's style.
"We're having to do more coaching this year and not quite as much teaching," he said. "But this is a different team. We're stronger across the board than we have been. Consistency early will be difficult, but I think we'll get there soon."
It sounds as if Miller plans to stick around for a while.
"Coach is just a big kid," Krolikoski said. "It's hard to believe he's been here forever."