TEMPE – For the first time in nearly 25 years, the Sun Devil track and field program will be under new leadership starting in the 2019-20 season as former associate head coach Dion Miller will take on the role of director of track and field and cross country for the storied program.
"I would be remiss if I didn't first express my gratitude and appreciation to vice president of athletics Ray Anderson, Jean Boyd, Don Bocchi, Scottie Graham and coach (now associate athletic director) Greg Kraft for their belief in my abilities and providing me with an opportunity to lead this program," Miller said. "I would not be in the position that I am in today without the guidance of Coach Kraft and I am grateful for everything that he and this university have provided me in my time at ASU."
Miller, a 19-year coach with experience in three power-five conferences, started his second stint with the Sun Devils back in 2018.
ASU's new man in charge was on the staff that won the 2007 Women's NCAA Indoor and Outdoor titles. He worked closely with 2018 Sun Devil Sports Hall of Fame inductee and seven-time NCAA champion Jacquelyn Johnson, and recruited a handful of Sun Devil greats to Tempe, including 100-and 200-meter record-holder Charonda Williams.
"Coach Miller was with me when we won our first national championship and he's a man of high-character," associate athletic director for track and field Greg Kraft said. "I couldn't be more thrilled for him and this opportunity. With the coaching staff we have in place with coaches Brian Blutreich, Cory Leslie, Ron Barela and Javonie Small they've really redirected the path of our program in the time they've been here, and I think with Miller at the helm the future of this program is in good hands."
An eight-time Mountain Region Assistant Coach of the Year, Miller has seen success at every stop during his career. In his first term with ASU, Miller's sprinters helped the Sun Devils win two Pac-10 titles and the aforementioned NCAA crown in 2007. He then went on to lead the sprints program at his alma mater of Texas Tech and saw the Red Raiders earn a Big 12 outdoor title in 2014. In his final season with Alabama, the Tide men won the program's first SEC indoor title and was eventually named USTFCCCA Program of the Year for their combined success at the NCAA Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
As an assistant, Miller has coached his fair share of elite talent, including four Olympians and two IAAF world champions. In his near 20-year career, Miller has coached 137 men and women to All-America status and another 37 to conference crowns in the Big 12 and Pac-10/12.
With the staff that coach Kraft has already assembled, we believe that with coach Miller leading the program, the Sun Devils can continue to build upon what Kraft started nearly 25 years ago," Anderson said. "At every stop in his 19-year career, Miller has developed his sprints groups into some of the best in the nation, and his success has been recognized by his peers as he has been voted regional assistant coach of the year eight times. He has already proven his ability to recruit by putting together a tremendous incoming class and we believe that it is only the beginning."
In just a season back in Tempe, Miller has guided the ASU sprinters to their highest point total at a Pac-12 Championships since 2016, and has put together one of the best sprints recruiting classes in the country for the 2019-20 seasons.
"ASU will always be a special place for me and this is where I want to be," Miller said. "This is a nationally recognized and historically accomplished program, and I believe we are in the process of getting back to that level. I know that we have the coaching staff and the resources to compete for conference and national titles like we did when I was here the first time, and I want to bring that kind of success back to Tempe."
Miller is the seventh head coach in Sun Devil track and field history joining Kraft, Sun Devil Hall of Famer Senon "Baldy" Castillo, Rudy Lavik, Donn Kinzle, Leonard Braxton, and Len Miller.
"I would be remiss if I didn't first express my gratitude and appreciation to vice president of athletics Ray Anderson, Jean Boyd, Don Bocchi, Scottie Graham and coach (now associate athletic director) Greg Kraft for their belief in my abilities and providing me with an opportunity to lead this program," Miller said. "I would not be in the position that I am in today without the guidance of Coach Kraft and I am grateful for everything that he and this university have provided me in my time at ASU."
Miller, a 19-year coach with experience in three power-five conferences, started his second stint with the Sun Devils back in 2018.
ASU's new man in charge was on the staff that won the 2007 Women's NCAA Indoor and Outdoor titles. He worked closely with 2018 Sun Devil Sports Hall of Fame inductee and seven-time NCAA champion Jacquelyn Johnson, and recruited a handful of Sun Devil greats to Tempe, including 100-and 200-meter record-holder Charonda Williams.
"Coach Miller was with me when we won our first national championship and he's a man of high-character," associate athletic director for track and field Greg Kraft said. "I couldn't be more thrilled for him and this opportunity. With the coaching staff we have in place with coaches Brian Blutreich, Cory Leslie, Ron Barela and Javonie Small they've really redirected the path of our program in the time they've been here, and I think with Miller at the helm the future of this program is in good hands."
An eight-time Mountain Region Assistant Coach of the Year, Miller has seen success at every stop during his career. In his first term with ASU, Miller's sprinters helped the Sun Devils win two Pac-10 titles and the aforementioned NCAA crown in 2007. He then went on to lead the sprints program at his alma mater of Texas Tech and saw the Red Raiders earn a Big 12 outdoor title in 2014. In his final season with Alabama, the Tide men won the program's first SEC indoor title and was eventually named USTFCCCA Program of the Year for their combined success at the NCAA Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
As an assistant, Miller has coached his fair share of elite talent, including four Olympians and two IAAF world champions. In his near 20-year career, Miller has coached 137 men and women to All-America status and another 37 to conference crowns in the Big 12 and Pac-10/12.
With the staff that coach Kraft has already assembled, we believe that with coach Miller leading the program, the Sun Devils can continue to build upon what Kraft started nearly 25 years ago," Anderson said. "At every stop in his 19-year career, Miller has developed his sprints groups into some of the best in the nation, and his success has been recognized by his peers as he has been voted regional assistant coach of the year eight times. He has already proven his ability to recruit by putting together a tremendous incoming class and we believe that it is only the beginning."
In just a season back in Tempe, Miller has guided the ASU sprinters to their highest point total at a Pac-12 Championships since 2016, and has put together one of the best sprints recruiting classes in the country for the 2019-20 seasons.
"ASU will always be a special place for me and this is where I want to be," Miller said. "This is a nationally recognized and historically accomplished program, and I believe we are in the process of getting back to that level. I know that we have the coaching staff and the resources to compete for conference and national titles like we did when I was here the first time, and I want to bring that kind of success back to Tempe."
Miller is the seventh head coach in Sun Devil track and field history joining Kraft, Sun Devil Hall of Famer Senon "Baldy" Castillo, Rudy Lavik, Donn Kinzle, Leonard Braxton, and Len Miller.