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Once upon a time, he was an all-state multi-sport star at Honaker High School called Heath Miller.
He was a Mackey Award winner and was known as Heath Miller, an All-American tight end at the University of Virginia.
In 11 NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he became a two-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowler Heath Miller.
Now you can call him Coach Heath Miller.
St. Ann's Belfield School in Charlottesville, Virginia, announced Monday that Miller will coach the Saints in the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association during the 2024 season.
He replaces Joe Sandow, who recently assumed the gridiron post at Greater Atlanta Christian. STAB went 6-3 last season.
“I look forward to building on the strong foundation that Coach Sandor has worked so tirelessly on,” Miller said in a press release. “My goal is to build a team that models the right values on and off the field.”
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Miller and his wife, Katie, have four children who attend the STAB school system.
“It's a valuable experience for soccer players to be coached by someone who has played the sport at the highest level,” STAB administrator Autumn Graves said in a release. “And while many will focus on his great accomplishments as one of the Steelers' most famous players, what means the most to Heath as a parent of our school is that he is a leader with great leadership.” I know it's about having the opportunity to model , teamwork, and character for the next generation. ”
Miller becomes the second Southwest Virginia legend to coach at a private school in Charlottesville. Billy Wagner, a former Tazewell High School star and MLB relief pitcher, is the head baseball coach at the Miller School.
Miller, 41, joins fellow former NFL tight end Jason Witten (Elizabethton) as high school head coaches. Witten led Liberty Christian School in Argyle, Texas, to a state championship in 2023.
A quarterback in high school, Miller led the Honaker Tigers to Region D, Division 2 titles in 1999 and 2000, the latter finishing as state runner-up. He also excelled in basketball and baseball.
Miller played at the University of Virginia from 2001 to 2004, where he was a unanimous first-team All-American selection and won the Mackey Award, given to the nation's best tight end, in 2004. He set the career reception record for a UVa tight end (144). yards (1,703) and TDs (20).
After his college career, Miller played 11 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He retired from the NFL in 2015 as the all-time leader in receptions (592), receiving yards (6,569) and receiving touchdowns (45) to tight ends. Miller was a member of the Steelers' Super Bowl IV and Super Bowl XLIII championship teams.
“We are excited about the passion and football experience Heath brings to our football program,” STAB athletic director Seth Kushkin said in a release. “And we are grateful for Joe's great leadership, tireless efforts and passion he brings to our program.”
John Shifflett of the Charlottesville Daily Progress contributed to this report.
