Nate Miller (coach)
Nathan David Miller (born 1986) is an American soccer coach who is currently the head coach of USL Championship side San Diego Loyal SC.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Nathan David Miller | ||
Date of birth | February 24, 1986 | ||
Place of birth | Jerusalem, Israel | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | San Diego Loyal (head coach) | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2004–2008 | Taylor Trojans | ||
Managerial career | |||
2010–2012 | Taylor Trojans (assistant) | ||
2013–2018 | Spring Arbor Cougars | ||
2015–2018 | Lansing United | ||
2018–2019 | Lansing Ignite | ||
2020–2022 | San Diego Loyal (assistant) | ||
2023– | San Diego Loyal |
Playing career
Miller played for Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He then attended Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, where he was a four-year starting midfielder from 2004–2008.[1] He was selected to the Mid-Central College Conference (MCC) All-Conference team in 2005 and 2006 and to the All-Region team in 2007. Miller served as captain of the Trojan soccer team his senior year. After college, Miller played central midfield for the Vikings AA semi-professional soccer league in Chicago, IL.[2]
Coaching career
Amateur and College
Miller began his coaching career as an assistant at Taylor University. He is credited with turning around Taylor University's soccer program from 14–23–1 in the two years prior to his arrival, to a three year record of 40–19–2, including 2011's season where the Trojans were 19–2–1 and ranked 17th in the NAIA.
Miller served as head coach of the Spring Arbor University men's soccer team from 2013–2018. He also served as the head coach and general manager for Lansing United, a former member of the Premier Development League now known as USL League Two, from 2015–2018. Under Miller, in 2018, Spring Arbor had one of the best seasons in program history leading to Miller becoming the conference coach of the year. Miller's record with Lansing United was 20–13–12. [3]
Professional
In November 2018, he was named head coach of USL League One expansion side Lansing Ignite FC. Miller led the side to a 2nd place regular season finish in USL League One, however, the team lost in the playoff semi-finals to Greenville Triumph SC. In total, Miller led Lansing to 13–8–10 season, with a 42% win percentage.[4] On January 8, 2020, it was announced that Miller would join Landon Donovan's staff as associate head coach with San Diego Loyal in preparation for the team's inaugural season in the USL Championship.[5]
Miller was promoted to head coach on December 2, 2022.[6]
Personal life
Miller was born in Jerusalem. At the age of 7, he moved with his family to Kenya. At the age of 13, he moved to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He has been married to his wife Darcy Miller since 2009. They live with their three children in San Diego, CA.
References
- "'Low moments' put soccer in full perspective for Lansing Ignite coach Nate Miller". Lansing State Journal. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
- SAU Athletics (5 March 2013). "Spring Arbor University names Nate Miller as Head Coach of Men's Soccer". Mlive. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- lansingignite. "Technical Staff". lansingignite. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
- "Lansing Ignite falls to Greenville Triumph, 1–0, in USL League One semifinals". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- Buddy, Kellan. "Former Ignite head coach Nate Miller lands job in San Diego". www.wilx.com. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- "Landon Donovan moves full-time to SD Loyal Executive VP of Soccer Operations". USLChampionship.com. Retrieved 2 December 2022.