Bill Miller, Servite’s first football coach, has died from effects of Parkinson’s Disease at the age of 85. He led the Friars’ to their first CIF-SS Championship in 1960.
The 1962 yearbook recounted his impact on the community sharing, “The years 1958 through 1961 were not just stumbling attempts at a beginning of an athletic program at Servite. Under the direction of Mr. Bill Miller and Mr. George Dena, Servite made unheard advances in sports. Miller was a rough coach, he required discipline and physical fitness and he got both of his players. In his three years at Servite, he and Dena brought groups of untrained boys to the title of champion. In three years his football squads racked up a record of 22 wins and 5 losses, with one undefeated season and one CIF championship included in the deal. He also brought an all-junior baseball team to the CIF playoffs.”
The yearbook concluded, “These are impressive achievements, Bill Miller was an impressive man.”
Coach Miller went on to have a decorated coaching career spending a decade of dominance in Northern California at Placer High School where he led the team to five Sac-Joaquin Section titles, seven league titles and two State Team of the Year nominations.
