John Miller built the Blackhawk boys' basketball program into one of Pennsylvania's perennial powers, winning eight WPIAL and four PIAA championships in 29 seasons.
Now, he's blowing the whistle on his coaching career.
Miller resigned Wednesday, ending a 35-year run as one of the most decorated coaches in WPIAL history, but didn't rule out a return to the sidelines.
"I think the time has come for me to move and give another guy a crack at it at Blackhawk," Miller said. "I'm not saying you won't see me at some place in two years. I'm not ruling that out. I'm not saying this is retirement. But, right now, I'm ready to move on."
Miller, 62, leaves Blackhawk with a career record of 657-280 in 35 seasons, including six at Riverside. His eight WPIAL titles are second only to Ed McCluskey, who won 11 at Farrell from 1951-76. Blackhawk made the playoffs 21 consecutive seasons under Miller, who was 104-29 in the postseason.
"He put Blackhawk on the map in Pennsylvania and the country," Blackhawk athletic director Jack Fullen said. "We look at all our coaches as extensions of teachers in the classroom and John just did an excellent, superb job in the basketball arena."
Miller didn't do it without controversy, drawing a reputation as a renegade through his dealings with the Pittsburgh J.O.T.S. AAU program and benefiting from a handful of high-profile and talented transfers.
"I had a unique career in terms of getting to know a lot of people around the country," Miller said. "When you win and you win big, most people are looking for the negative."
Blackhawk won 16 section crowns, including WPIAL records of 13 consecutive section titles (Ford City and Wampum had 12 each) and 111 consecutive section victories from 1990-99 (Wampum had 82).
"That's a record, everybody on our staff, we're proud of that," Miller said. "That's a test of time."
Blackhawk reigned supreme in the 1990s, winning five WPIAL and four PIAA titles. They won 62 of 64 games from 1990-92, and had a 41-game winning streak between 1998-2000.
"The WPIAL is losing a good coach," Chartiers Valley coach Tim McConnell said. "The guy worked really hard and was dedicated. He was good for the game."
Moon coach Jeff Ackermann, whose Tigers have won the past two WPIAL Class AAA titles, said Miller's success at Blackhawk forced its opponents to emulate his program to elevate their own.
"Two things stand out about his teams: They were fundamentally sound and a tremendous foul-shooting team," Ackermann said. "If they got a lead late, it was over. They just did not miss free throws.
"You knew all their guards were going to be able to shoot and dribble. It just seemed like they recycled them year after year. It shows you the guy knows how to get the best out of his players."
Miller also got the most out of his own children. The patriarch of one of Western Pennsylvania's foremost basketball families, sons Sean (Pitt) and Archie (North Carolina State) and daughter Lisa (Toledo, Elon) all won WPIAL titles and played Division I basketball.
Miller said he wanted to spend more time with his children and grandchildren, scattered across the country. Sean is head coach at Xavier and Archie is director of basketball operations at N.C. State in Raleigh where Lisa lives. Daughter Dana, who lives in Houston, is expecting twins.
"You start getting down to the last third of your life, and I looked at the picture and my kids are all scattered around," Miller said. "I can never leave. I probably need to spend more time with my grandkids. I still love to coach. I'm with it every day. I'm still running my (Drill4Skill) camps. I'm not ready to put the basketball down."
| Calling it a (fine) career |
John Miller leaves Blackhawk as one of the most decorated boys' basketball coaches in WPIAL history. Here is a look at his accomplishments:
SchoolSeasonsRecord
Riverside674-581970-76
Blackhawk29583-2221976-2005
Career35657-280
Championships
WPIAL (8): 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003
PIAA (4): 1992, 1995, 1996, 1999
Runners-up
WPIAL (5): 1987, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001
PIAA (1): 2000
