In Memory of Coach Jim Miller
March 09, 2016
James "Jim" B. Miller III, the former University of Wisconsin-Whitewater coach who brought the Warhawk baseball team to national prominence, passed away March 9 at the age of 74.
Affectionately known as "Mills," Miller was a proud member of the campus community for nearly his entire life — a man who, in his roles as a coach, faculty member and alumnus, passionately advocated for students, the UW-Whitewater athletic program and the university.
A celebration of Miller's life was held March 15, at Russell Arena in the Williams Center.
"Coach Jim Miller (Mills) was a Warhawk through and through," Chancellor Beverly Kopper said. "There are few people who loved this university more than Coach Miller. He was someone who left his mark on the campus through his passion, generosity, commitment and leadership. Coach Miller was beloved by his players and coaches, but he had an impact on other students as well through the classroom. He built a successful baseball program that helped spark our national success in athletics. Coach Miller helped create a program that truly is powered by tradition. He leaves a legacy as a coach, administrator, teacher and friend. I will greatly miss him and his enthusiasm for all things Warhawk. My heart goes out to Carol in this time of deep loss."
Miller served as head coach of the baseball team from 1987 to 2003. In his 17 years, he never had a losing season. His 416-222 record is second best in wins. He led the Warhawks to seven NCAA Division III tournament appearances, and 11 of his players signed professional contracts. In 2003, the year he retired, Miller was inducted into the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.
In honor of his service to UW-Whitewater and intercollegiate athletics, in 2009, the UW System Board of Regents approved naming the baseball stadium in his honor — Prucha Field at James B. Miller Stadium.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jim Miller, one of the most well-respected and successful figures in the history of our department," Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Amy Edmonds said. "He was a man who was beloved by the student-athletes he coached, campus colleagues and community members alike. 'Mills' understood the emotion, pride and standard of excellence we have on our campus. He was a wonderful, inspirational person, and I consider him to be the grandfather of Warhawk Athletics whose impact will be felt for years to come."
Born in Whitewater, the campus was literally Miller's backyard. He grew up in a house on Prairie Street, the university's east border, when much of the campus was farmland.
And if the campus felt like a second home to him, it's for good reason. At the time, UW-Whitewater operated an elementary and high school on campus, both of which Miller attended.
As an undergraduate, Miller was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity and worked for the athletic department, filming football games using an 8mm camera.
He graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor in Education in Social Studies, and was hired at Fort Atkinson High School as a physical education and driver's education teacher.
Miller returned to his alma mater in 1969 and would go on to work as an equipment manager, sports information director, director of Warhawk Stadium, head men's basketball coach, and assistant professor and chair of the Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Coaching Department.
After retiring as head baseball coach in 2003, Miller continued his work at UW-Whitewater as a special assistant to the director of intercollegiate athletics. He directed the department's Athletics Hall of Fame efforts, worked on several other special projects and served as the keynote speaker at UW-Whitewater's 2014 winter commencement.
Miller's wife, Carol, who received her bachelor's and master's degrees at UW-Whitewater, serves as the university's director of financial aid. Jim and Carol are both UW-Whitewater Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.
"We live and breathe purple," Miller said in 2014. "There's a tremendous amount of pride in being part of the Warhawk family."
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the James B. Miller Memorial Fund or the Baseball Program Enhancement Fund through the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Foundation at 800 W. Main St., Whitewater, WI 53190. At Miller's behest, contributions to the James B. Miller Memorial Fund will support an endowment fund supporting Warhawk Athletics to benefit the department and all of its student-athletes in Jim Miller's memory. Contributions to the Baseball Program Enhancement Fund will directly support the Warhawk baseball program and its facility enhancements.