James Henry "Buddy" Miller (March 27, 1932 – April 13, 2013) was an American junior college football coach. He was the head football coach for Kilgore College from 1976 to 1991. He also coached for Corsicana High School, Jacksonville High School, Roy Miller High School, and Henderson High School.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 27, 1932 Ennis, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | April 13, 2013 (aged 81) Kilgore, Texas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | East Texas State University (1959) |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1955–1958 | East Texas State |
| Position(s) | Lineman |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1959–1962 | Corsicana HS (TX) (line) |
| 1963–1964 | Jacksonville HS (TX) (assistant) |
| 1965 | Roy Miller HS (TX) (DC) |
| 1966 | Henderson HS (TX) (assistant) |
| 1967–1975 | Kilgore (DC) |
| 1976–1991 | Kilgore |
| Basketball | |
| 1959–1962 | Corsicana HS (TX) (JV) |
| Track and field | |
| 1962 | Corsicana HS (TX) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 97–66–2 (football) |
| Bowls | 2–3 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 junior college (1978) 6 TJCFC (1977–1978, 1980–1982, 1990) | |
| Awards | |
| As player 2× All-LSC (1957–1958) Texas A&M–Commerce Hall of Fame (1991) As coach Kilgore Hall of Fame (2002) | |
Early life and playing career
editMiller was born in Ennis, Texas, and attended Ennis High School. He graduated in 1950 and began work as a printer for the Ennis Tag and Salesbrook Company.[1] On May 30, 1953, he married Dianne Percival.[1]
During the Korean War, Miller served in the United States Army. After returning from the military he attended East Texas State University—now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce—where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in biology, history, and education.[2] He played college football for East Texas State as a lineman. He earned two All-Lone Star Conference (LSC) honors in his junior and senior years. In 1991, he was named to the Texas A&M–Commerce Athletic Hall of Fame.[3]
Coaching career
editMiller began his coaching career as an assistant coach throughout high schools in Texas. After graduating from East Texas State, he was hired by Corsicana High School to be the line coach.[4][5] He was also named as the junior varsity coach for the school's basketball team.[6] He helped lead the team to back-to-back-to-back 8-AAA championships from 1960 to 1962.[7][8] In 1962, he led the track and field team.[9]
In 1963, Miller accepted an assistant coaching position with Jacksonville High School.[10] After two seasons he was hired as the defensive coordinator for Roy Miller High School.[11] In 1966, he was an assistant coach for Henderson High School.
In 1967, Miller was hired as the defensive coordinator coach for Kilgore, a junior college program in Texas.[12] In 1976, he was named head football coach as the successor to Charles Simmons.[13] After going 2–8 in his first season he led the team to an 8–2 record and a Texas Junior College Football Conference (TJCFC) championship. In 1978, Kilgore finished with a 10–0–1 record and a NJCAA National Football Championship championship and another TJCFC championship.[14] In sixteen seasons as head coach, Miller finished with an overall record of 97–66–2 which was the most of any coach in Kilgore history alongside winning six TJCFC championships.[15][16]
Death
editMiller died on April 13, 2013, in his home in Kilgore, Texas. He is buried in the Danville Cemetery.[1][2][3][17]
Head coaching record
editFootball
edit| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilgore Rangers (Texas Junior College Football Conference) (1976–1991) | |||||||||
| 1976 | Kilgore | 2–8 | 2–8 | 6th | |||||
| 1977 | Kilgore | 8–2 | 8–2 | T–1st | |||||
| 1978 | Kilgore | 10–0–1 | 9–0–1 | 1st | W Garland-Texas Bowl | ||||
| 1979 | Kilgore | 5–5 | 5–5 | 5th | |||||
| 1980 | Kilgore | 10–1 | 10–0 | 1st | L Garland-Texas Bowl | ||||
| 1981 | Kilgore | 8–2 | 4–1 | T–1st | |||||
| 1982 | Kilgore | 7–4 | 4–1 | 1st | L Garland-Texas Bowl | ||||
| 1983 | Kilgore | 6–4 | 2–3 | T–4th | |||||
| 1984 | Kilgore | 6–4 | 5–3 | 3rd | |||||
| 1985 | Kilgore | 5–4–1 | 3–3 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1986 | Kilgore | 6–4 | 3–3 | T–2nd | |||||
| 1987 | Kilgore | 2–8 | 2–4 | T–5th | |||||
| 1988 | Kilgore | 3–7 | 1–5 | 6th | |||||
| 1989 | Kilgore | 6–5 | 4–2 | 2nd | L Texas Shrine Bowl | ||||
| 1990 | Kilgore | 9–2 | 6–0 | 1st | W Texas Shrine Bowl | ||||
| 1991 | Kilgore | 4–6 | 0–6 | 7th | |||||
| Kilgore: | 97–66–2 | 68–46–1 | |||||||
| Total: | 97–66–2 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References
edit- ^ a b c "James H. Miller". Legacy. April 16, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ a b Lucas, Mitch (April 17, 2013). "Legendary KC coach Jim Miller passes". Kilgore News Herald. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ a b Hicks, Phil (April 15, 2013). "Longtime KC coach Miller passes away". Tyler Morning Telegraph. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ "Area Football Permitted To Open Practice Drills Monday, Aug. 17". Corsicana Semi-Weekly Light. August 14, 1959. p. 10. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Canant, Talmadge (November 27, 1959). "Corsicana Coaches And Players Are Honored At Loyalty Banquet". Corsicana Semi-Weekly Light. p. 8. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ "Thirty-Six Cagers Trying For Positions". Corsicana Daily Sun. December 5, 1960. p. 6. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ "Corsicana And Jacksonville Elevens Poised For Battle Here". Corsicana Daily Sun. November 24, 1960. p. 14. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ "Repeat Champions". Corsicana Semi-Weekly Light. December 1, 1961. p. 2. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Canant, Talmadge (March 6, 1962). "Comments by Canant". Corsicana Daily Sun. p. 7. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ "Jim Miller To Accept Place At Jacksonville". Corsicana Daily Sun. May 23, 1963. p. 30. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ "Jacksonville Grid Coach Resigns Post". Tyler Morning Telegraph. April 24, 1965. p. 10. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Shelton, Morris (February 24, 1967). "Jim Miller New Assistant at KC". The Kilgore News Herald. p. 2. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Inman, John (January 14, 1976). "Miller Takes Over KC Football Helm". Longview News-Journal. p. 13. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ "Miller Honored At Banquet". Longview News-Journal. February 22, 1979. p. 11. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ "Kilgore College football coach Jim Miller to retire May 15". The Kilgore News Herald. December 6, 1991. p. 1. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ "Miller Retires As KC Grid Coach". Miller Retires As KC Grid Coach. December 7, 1991. p. 40. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ "James 'Jim' Miller". Kilgore News Herald. April 17, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2024.