Player Bio: Bill Miller

Veteran defensive strategist Bill Miller is in his second season as Arizona State's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Miller brought 27 years of experience with him when he joined Dirk Koetter's staff from the University of Florida in December, 2004. In his first season at ASU, Miller tutored LB Dale Robinson, who would go on to be the Pat Tillman Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Pac-10 Conference, along with All-Pac-10 performers S Zach Catanese, DT Jordan Hill and LB Jamar Williams. The 2006 season will be Miller's 19th as a defensive coordinator. He served as the associate head coach at Florida in 2004 and was the Gators' linebackers coach in 2003 and 2004. Prior to his stint in Gainesville, Miller was defensive coordinator for Nick Saban at Michigan State (1999-02) and for Butch Davis at Miami (1995-98). From 1989-94, Miller was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Oklahoma State. Miller also made stops at Minnesota (1986-88, defensive backs), Nevada (1983-85, defensive coordinator/secondary) and Drake (1981-82, secondary). He has been a part of five teams that have won conference championships (1981 Missouri Valley, '83 and '85 Big Sky and '95 and '96 Big East titles). In his first season at Florida, Miller coached freshman Channing Crowder, who led the Southeastern Conference and all freshmen nationally in tackles per game. Miller was nominated for the Frank Broyles Award, which is given annually to the nation's top assistant football coach, for the second time in his career. Crowder and teammate Earl Everett were named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, while Crowder was named the Sporting News' SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year. Miller coached the SEC's leading freshmen tacklers in each of his two seasons at Florida (Crowder in 2003 and Brandon Siler in 2004) with each player earning Freshmen All-America honors. In 2001, Miller's defense at Michigan State paced the Big Ten Conference and ranked 14th in the nation in pass defense (176.1 ypg). Miller's 2000 defense led the conference in total defense for the second consecutive year and ranked 22nd nationally (318.3 ypg). The Spartans also led the league in pass defense (164.1 ypg, No. 7 in the NCAA) and pass efficiency defense (22nd nationally) that season. That season Miller was also nominated for the Broyles award. In 1999, Michigan State led the Big Ten and finished No. 5 nationally in rush defense, allowing only 77 yards per game, and finished 12th in the nation in total defense (299 ypg). The Spartans finished the 1999 season ranked No. 7 and tied the school record for wins (10), including a victory over Florida in the Citrus Bowl. In 1997, Miller's defensive unit at the University of Miami led the Big East in pass defense (177.3 ypg), while in 1998 it ranked second in the league in rushing defense (135.6 ypg). Miller's defense helped lead the Hurricanes to back-to-back Big East co-championships in 1995 and 1996. The Miami defense also contributed to victories at the 1996 Carquest Bowl and the 1998 Micron PC Bowl. Miller served as an assistant coach under Jimmy Johnson at Oklahoma State from 1979-80 while Dave Wannstedt, Pat Jones, Keith Armstrong and Tony Wise were also assistants on the same staff. In 1986 at Minnesota, the Golden Gophers' defense helped upset top-ranked Michigan 20-17 and earned a trip to the Liberty Bowl. As defensive coordinator at the University of Nevada, Miller helped guide the Wolf Pack to the Big Sky Conference title in 1983. The 1983 and 1985 Nevada teams advanced to the Division I-AA national semifinals. Miller's 1983 and 1985 squads led the Big Sky and ranked No. 3 in the nation in total defense and led the country in turnover margin. In his first year at Drake, Miller's secondary contributed to a 10-1 record and a share of the 1981 Missouri Valley Conference title. A native of Hutchinson, Kan., Miller began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Texas-Arlington, in 1978 as a graduate assistant. He moved onto Oklahoma State in 1979-80 as a graduate assistant.

The Miller File
Born: June of 1956 in Hutchinson, Kan.
High School Education: Hutchinson (Kan.) High School, 1974
College Education: Texas-Arlington, 1978
College Football: Hutchinson (Kan.) Junior College, 1974-75; Texas-Arlington, 1976-77
Coaching Career: Texas Arlington, 1978; Oklahoma State, 1979-80; Drake, 1981-82; Nevada-Reno, 1983-85; Minnesota, 1986-88; Oklahoma State, 1989-94; Miami (Fla.), 1995-98; Michigan State, 1999-02; Florida, 2003-04; Arizona State, 2004-present
Recruiting Area: Southeast Florida, Texas and Kansas junior colleges
Family: Wife, Lisa (Swanson) Miller, and sons, Cole (14) and Jackson (11)

NFL Players Coached

Bill Miller Hometown: Hutchinson, Kan. High School: Hutchinson (Kan.) HS Position: Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Experience: Second Year at ASU Alma Mater: Texas-Arlington '78