From his time growing up in Goshen, through a stint in the NFL, to coaching football and track at Columbus East, David Miller has always been passionate about sports.
So when the assistant athletics director job opened up at East, Miller jumped at the opportunity. Miller was recently selected to fill the vacancy left by Tyler Davis, who has opted to return to teaching full time.
“Being involved in athletics since I was a kid, and ever since my educational career started, whether it be coaching or teaching, athletics has always been a part of my life,” Miller said. “So when the position came open, I thought it was an opportunity to get involved in athletics even more.”
After playing football at Ball State, Miller spent two and a half years in the NFL. He was an offensive lineman for the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and New York Giants from 2003-05.
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Miller came to East in 2006 as strength and conditioning coach and assistant football coach. He has been the Olympians’ offensive line coach since then, including during their state championship runs in 2013 (Class 4A) and 2017 (5A) and their run to a 5A state runner-up finish in 2016.
Miller also spent two years as assistant boys track coach. He took over as head coach from 2013-17, leading East to the Hoosier Hills Conference championship in 2016.
Since 2014, Miller has served as Dean of Students at East. He will continue to be a dean for a half-day and will spend the other half with the athletics department.
“I’m still going to be able to work with students as a dean, which is something I like to do,” said Miller, who also will continue his assistant coaching role with the football team.
East principal Mark Newell said he has worked with Miller since he first arrived at the school.
“It’s nice having David in the building,” Newell said. “We know that he’s really good working with parents, working with kids, working with teachers. He has good people skills. He has a teaching background. Working side-by-side with him in the Dean’s office, I got to see him working every day. He expressed his interest in it, and I thought he would be good for it.”
Miller replaces Davis, who has been the assistant athletics director for the past 12 years. Davis said he has a 5-year-old son who is involved in different sports and wanted to transition back to full-time teaching so that he could watch him play in the evenings.
Pete Huse is entering his sixth year as athletics director at East, and Cheryl Anderson has been the athletics secretary during that time. Miller said they likely would be meeting in the coming weeks to split up specific roles such as ticket sales, securing officials and other duties.
“I’m excited to get going,” Miller said. “Obviously, with the pandemic going on, it kind of changes high school athletics a little bit. But I’m looking forward to working with Mr. Huse and Mrs. Anderson and being part of the athletic department. It’s always hard being away from family, but being involved in different sports that I haven’t been able to see quite as much, I look forward to working with all of the student-athletes.”
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Name: David Miller
Age: 40
High school: Goshen
College: Ball State
Occupation: Dean of Students and assistant athletics director at Columbus East
Family: Wife Julie, children Jackson and Maya
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