For over thirty years, David Miller has made a profound impact on the North Carolina soccer community as a player, coach, and leader across various soccer organizations.
A passionate player, David began his North Carolina soccer journey at Catawba College, where, as a defender, he contributed to Catawba’s success from 1984 to 1986. During that time, Catawba achieved a record of 43-18- 1, including three NAIA Conference and District championships as well as impressive wins in 1986 over Duke and UNCG, national champs in their respective classifications. Upon graduating from college, David enlisted in the US Marine Corps. He saw combat in Desert Shield/Desert Storm and received a Navy Accommodation Medal. He was able to play soccer with the 29 Palms MCAGCC Base Team and also at Camp Lejeune. Upon leaving the Marine Corps, David continued to play in local adult leagues until 2014.
David began his coaching career with brief stints at Salisbury High School and Southwest Onslow before taking over the women’s soccer program at Jacksonville High School in 1996. In Jacksonville, David found a home, making a profound impact on his student-athletes, the school, and the community. As both the head men’s and women’s soccer coach, David amassed 810 wins, including two state championships, six eastern regional championships, nineteen regional championship appearances, and numerous conference championships. Throughout his coaching tenure, his teams always made the playoffs; in addition, his men’s team had 10 consecutive final-four appearances from 2005 to 2014. David is a three-time NCSCA State Coach of the Year, a two-time Spirit of the Brittany awardee, and has been named regional and conference coach of the year more than 20 times. MaxPreps ranked his 2012 State Championship team number two in the nation. He has coached in the prestigious East-West All-Star Game and the Clash of the Carolinas Showcase, and is a 2017 NCSCA Field of Honor Inductee. David coached numerous club teams in Onslow County and led those teams to three Kepner Cup Final Four appearances. David also served on the North Carolina State Games East Coaching staff for over ten years.
Not only did David teach and coach at Jacksonville, but he also served as athletic director, a role that allowed him to further champion his teams and players. But his advocacy extends well beyond the Jacksonville community. He has been a tremendous advocate for high school soccer at the state level with NCSCA and at the national level with the National Soccer Coaches Association & United Soccer Coaches. For over twenty years, he served as a regional chairman, the NCSCA executive board secretary, and then as the Athletic Director Liaison. David can frequently be found at NCSCA events—All-State Ceremonies, East-West All-Star and Clash of the Carolinas games—volunteering and assisting in whatever capacity was needed. He has attended and held meetings across the state to promote and advocate for the game and for all high school players. He served multiple years as the United Soccer Coaches Mid-Atlantic Regional COY Chairman and as a National COY committee member. David also held pivotal leadership positions in the soccer community with the Old North State Adult Soccer League, OCSA, and the Swansboro Soccer Association Adult Soccer League.
David Miller has dedicated his career to soccer in North Carolina. His advocacy for and impact on the development of the game and its participants reach multiple levels and thousands of athletes. He is a gentleman and a role model, and he is extremely deserving of a place in the North Carolina Hall of Fame.
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