Published: May 16, 2008 10:37 am         

BW football coach resigns

Miller cites new job obligations as reason

CUMBERLAND - Bishop Walsh High School announced Thursday that head football coach Paul Miller has resigned, ending a five-year relationship with the school and its football program.

"Paul's commitment to our football program has been amazing," said BW Principal Sam Torres.

"No coach has worked harder and done more to contact colleges about our student-athletes than Paul. He has been an innovator with his offensive schemes. We will miss him greatly and wish him luck in his new professional endeavors."

Miller became the Spartans head coach on Aug. 13, 2003, eight days after former head coach John Wilson became the coach at Clear Spring. In five seasons with the Spartans Miller compiled a record of 15-38, including a 5-6 mark during the 2004 campaign.

"I really regret the fact that I have to resign as I was hoping to get at least one more year," said Miller. "New occupation responsibilities are not going to allow me to put in the time needed to run the program like it needs to be."

Miller also talked about the Spartans turning a corner.

"The sad part is that the coaching staff really thought we had the program heading in the right direction, and thought were going to really see some success."

Miller said he expects the winning to continue.

"My only regret is that we didn't have an actual winning season measured by wins and loses, but I think we had some successful ones. I hope that the winning continues to rise with the new staff."

Known for his innovative offense, Miller also helped usher in a Bishop Walsh Middle School football program. The program has helped provide the Spartans with a junior varsity team, as the number of players in the program rose from 14 in 2005 to 33 last season.

What Miller was most proud of was that he was able to get players to continue football after high school.

"Every year that I was there we had kids that received either a scholarship or a chance to play at the college level. Even with the small numbers we were still able to market our players."Miller's wide-open offense helped Chris Hendershot pass for 2,347 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2004. That same season saw Jeremy Sneathen set an area record with 69 receptions. Sneathen would total 11 touchdowns and 1,145 receiving yards in 11 games.

In 2005, Zac Hare led the area with 1,661 passing yards.

A 1975 graduate of Fort Hill, Miller played offensive guard and defensive end for coach Charlie Lattimer. Miller is also a graduate of the Respiratory Therapy Institute in Miami, Fla., and manages American Respiratory Associates in Fort Ashby, W.Va.

"I'm going to miss the entire coaching staff," said Miller. "They were as dedicated as any group I've been around, and no matter if they were 0-10 or 10-0 they worked just as hard."

Miller also said he would miss coaching with his son Matt, and would miss his grandson on the sideline as manager. "We're breaking up a nice little family thing we had going."

Miller was a member of the Keyser High coaching staff under former BW head coach Walley Mahle, and was an assistant varsity coach at Frankfort for 11 years under head coaches Greg Phillips and Mickey Lantz. He has also coached softball, basketball and baseball.

"I would like to thank everybody at Bishop Walsh for the opportunity I've had. The entire administration from Sister Phyllis McNally, Sam Torres and Jim Zamagias have all been wonderful. It was always a dream of mine, to be a head coach at the high school level, and those people made it possible. I would also like to express my thanks to the booster club and the community. Even in hard times I never had a bad word said to me by any of them."

Contact Chris Appel at cappel@times-news.com.