KEN MILLER ARTICLE

Patton: Ex-Redlands coach not on ice


11:32 PM PST on Monday, January 12, 2009
By GREGG PATTONThe Press-Enterprise

Before he could get to his office one day last week, Ken Miller had to shovel four inches of snow from his driveway.
But at least, said the head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, "The weather warmed up a bit -- it's around 20-below Celsius."
For those of us here down south, sidestepping palm fronds on the way to work, that would convert to about zero degrees Fahrenheit. If most people who are getting close to their retirement years tend to head for, or stay in, warmer climes, the 67-year-old Miller has happily gone the other way.

Since 2002, the one-time boss of the University of Redlands football program has been an assistant coach in the Canadian Football League, first with the Toronto Argonauts and the past two seasons in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Last month, the Roughriders promoted him to the top spot, 21 years after his last head coaching job at U of R.

"I used to tell my students," said Miller, who as recently as 2001 was teaching biology at Bloomington High School, "If you have an opportunity for an adventure, take it."
No matter when it crops up.

The former Yucaipa High School coach, Miller was a fixture at the U of R for 24 years, 20 of them as an assistant. He ran the program from 1984 to 1987, when the Bulldogs went 10-29. But he remained on staff when Mike Maynard took over, and was on board for seven of Maynard's 10 Southern California Interscholastic Athletic Conference championships.
Maynard isn't surprised that Miller is still going strong.

"He has this horsepower, a high energy level," said Maynard, remembering him from practices and meetings. "He was still coming through when everyone else was getting tired and cranky."
But that isn't the only thing, Maynard said, that impresses people about Miller, whose personality cuts against the coaching stereotype.

"He has a personal warmth," said Maynard. "People just like him. He's honest and consistent.
"He has an ability to see people and problems in a positive way. That's something I've tried to learn from him."

Miller took early retirement from the school after the 2000 season, but wasn't done with football. A former SCIAC colleague, Gary Etcheverry, was coaching in Toronto and lured Miller to the Argonauts in 2002 to assist with the quarterbacks. The "adventure" was on.

The CFL, of course, has its own unique charms divorcing it from the American game. The field is larger (110 yards by 65 yards), with 20-yard end zones. There are 12 players per side and the "offence" gets only three plays to earn a first down.

The pace is more frenetic, too, with a 20-second play clock and no restrictions on backfield players going in motion, forward or otherwise.

The CFL requires about half of the players to be Canadian. Teams do rely heavily on talent that

gets cut from NFL tryouts and mini-camps.

"It's still blocking and tackling," Miller said. "And throwing and catching.
"What still catches me is the tempo of the game. Calling plays, you have to be alert, quick, fast."

He did catch on. He ran the Argos' offensive line from 2003 to 2005, then became a defensive coach for 2006. In 2007 he joined the Roughriders as offensive coordinator. The team led the CFL in touchdowns and went on to win the much-beleaguered franchise's first Grey Cup in 18 years.

It was only the third Grey Cup for Saskatchewan since it began competing for the prize in 1924. The team was 12-6 this past season, but lost in the first round of the playoffs, and head coach Kent Austin left to direct the offense at his alma mater, Mississippi. Miller had made enough of an impression in two years to earn the bump.

"It wasn't because he knew somebody," Maynard said. "He got up there and they saw him work. They said, 'Wow, he's good.' "

Miller said success has enlivened the Saskatchewan faithful, which has filled the team's 30,945-seat stadium for 17 consecutive games.

"The fans are wild here," he said. "This is a small province and we're the only pro team. This is one of the oldest franchises, but we've only won three Grey Cups. Now that we're winning, the expectations are unbelievable."

Miller welcomes the pressure.
"To coach at the pro level the last seven years has been a blessing," said Miller, whose wife, Maureen, shares their sunset adventure in Regina.
They have five grown children living in the States, spread out from coast to coast.

"It's easy to figure out that I'm getting closer to the end of my career," Miller said. "To finish at the pro level is an attraction in its own right, but this is also a great place to be.

"I love being around the players. It's a great organization. I've had a great time here."
The shoveling notwithstanding.
Reach Gregg Patton at 951-368-9597 or gpatton@PE.com