In the Ohio Athletic Conference, it is difficult to take a team from worst to first. It is even more difficult to keep that team in first place.
That is exactly what Jason Miller has been able to accomplish at Heidelberg.
Heading into the 2012 campaign, Miller’s squad is coming off of three consecutive OAC regular season championships and five straight appearances in the NCAA Regional Tournament. He has coached eleven athletes to the All-OAC First Team. Jackie Reinhart '12 was named OAC Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year twice. Brittany Donelan '11 ws named Libero of the Year three times.
But for Miller, three-time OAC Volleyball Coach of the Year, success is measured by more than wins on the court.
His teams have excelled in the classroom, earning many accolades along the way. In his 12 seasons, Miller has had 13 student athletes named to the Academic All-OAC First Team a total of 19 times. Brittany Donelan was named CoSIDA ESPN Academic All-America® of the Year for the College Division in 2010.
For eight years, Miller pulled double-duty in Heidelberg Athletics, serving as volleyball and wrestling head coach. Miller produced 24 OAC champions, six All-Americans, along with the Berg’s first national champion in Joe Pflug (2006) at 157 pounds. Along the way, Heidelberg took home the regular season title in 2006, 2008 and 2009, and claimed five consecutive tournament crowns from 2006-2010. Miller was tabbed the OAC Coach of the Year in each of his final five years at the helm.
Academically, Miller coached 20 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Academic All-Americans. Also, in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Heidelberg ranked in the top-20 as a team on the NWCA Academic list.
As a student, Miller was a three-time national qualifier and a two-time All-American at 158 pounds for Heidelberg. He won the Ohio Athletic Conference 158-pound class at the 1997 championships and was a three-time All-OAC performer. He was team captain during the 1997 season and was a 1996 NWCA Academic All-American. Miller finished his four-year career with a record of 136-38 for a .781 winning percentage. His 136 victories are tops on the college's all-time win list and his 41-2 record in 1997 sits atop the single season win list followed by his 36 wins as a junior.
Prior to returning to Heidelberg, Miller spent three seasons as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio Northern University.
In addition to his coaching duties, Miller currently serves as Heidelberg’s Director of Admissions.
A native to Tiffin and graduate of Hopewell-Loudon High School, Miller earned his bachelor's degree from Heidelberg in 1998 and his master's degree from the University of Findlay in 2001. He is married to Jennifer, and they have four daughters Hannah, Olivia, Emily and Gracie.
Miller Year-By-Year
2000: 8-21 (2-7)
2001: 15-17 (1-8)
2002: 15-16 (2-7)
2003: 18-16 (3-6)
2004: 21-13 (5-4)
2005: 17-16 (3-6)
2006: 22-15 (4-5)
2007: 27-11 (7-2)
2008: 31-8 (8-1)
2009: 27-8 (8-1)
2010: 33-6 (9-0)
2011: 32-7 (9-0)
Career: 266-154 (61-47)