Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 12, 1995 TAG: 9501130038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
One of the Roanoke Valley District's most noted coaches is returning after a year's absence.
George ``Killer'' Miller, will return today as the head football coach at William Fleming High School, a source said Wednesday. It was less than a year ago that Miller, one of the most popular coaches ever in the Roanoke Valley, took farewell bows after a 20-year stint as the Colonels' wrestling coach.
Miller, an assistant principal at the school, gave up wrestling to concentrate on his administrative duties. He will continue as the school's assistant principal, following in the footsteps of Parry McCluer's Bob Williams, Richlands' George Brown and others who have been school administrators and coaches at the same time.
Outgoing football coach Sherley Stuart, who will continue to work as the school's athletic director, declined to comment on who would succeed him. Miller also had no comment.
Miller has been very popular among fellow coaches. Many wrestling coaches privately wished for Fleming to win the Big Orange last year in Miller's final season.
Said Salem football coach Willis White, whose team will scrimmage Miller's first Fleming squad in August, ``I've known George as a player since high school. He's always worked hard. If this is what he wants, I'm happy for him. He'll do a good job at Fleming.''
Miller, who was one of Stuart's top assistants until this year, turned out highly successful wrestling teams. Under Miller, the Colonels won four consecutive Big Orange titles and six crowns from 1978-85. Last year, Miller's Herbie Kasey was the top Roanoke Valley District participant in the state, finishing fourth in the 135-pound class.
Miller was an outstanding offensive lineman at William Fleming and Elizabeth City State. He was an assistant football coach at Fleming for 18 years. He also was an assistant with the Virginia Express and Virginia Hunters, two Roanoke minor-league professional football teams.
He coached championship girls' track and field teams at Fleming in girls' track and was an assistant coach for the 1983 boys' team, the last Roanoke Valley District squad to win a state title.
Stuart, another popular coach in the Roanoke Valley area, announced after the Colonels' final football game that he would not coach football again. His career is similar to Miller's in that they both coached a number of sports.
by CNB