6B SPORTS
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FOOTBALL
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
IHURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10,2009
New coach depends on experience to teach defense
BY HALLIE MANN
hmann@kansan.com
New Kansas linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Bill Miller has seen a lot in this 32 years of coaching college football. While much has changed, the basics of working hard and motivating players still remain.
"You better pick something up over 32 years or you don't stay in the business long." Miller said.
Miller has coached at 10 different schools, inched
ing Oklahoma State, Michigan State and Texas at Arlington — his alma mater — and has coached multiple bowl game seasons. Defensive coordinator Clint Bowen sees Miller's experience and passion as an asset for the Jayhawks.
Bowen said that Miller brings a lot to the table for the defense.
Bowen points out that he's a good recruiter for the state of Kansas, being from Hutchinson, and he has a many connections with high schools in Kansas.
Miller also helps contribute in game preparation and strategy development with Bowen. But Bowen said Miller's most important contribution is his ability to get his players ready for a game and get them to make plays for the defense.
"He's been in the business for a long time because he's good at it," Bowen said.
Miller said he has had the opportunity to work with several talented coaches and he's learned a lot from them.
Coaches need to be able to adapt with the changes of the game, Miller said. With bowl seasons in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s he's proven he can keep up with the pace of college football.
Another lesson he's learned from working with other teams is how to be a teacher to his players, something he considers himself good at. For Miller, he just has
to be himself when he's coaching and relate to his players through experience. He may not have a distinct "coaching style" but he has learned how to be successful over the years.
Sophomore cornerback Daymond Patterson said Miller has helped the players with schemes and knowledge from his experience as a coach.
Miller's knowledge of the game
has given Kansas players confidence and they will continue to get better and better, Patterson said. Patterson said that Miller and Bowen are there for players in any type of situation, on the field and off.
he was coaching at Oklahoma State. He said the style of offense, where lots of teams are now running a spread offense, is one of the biggest changes he's seen from the conference over the years. But Miller said he's seen in other parts of the country where he's coached and he knows how to handle it.
"They treat us like men if we act like men," Patterson said. "It's really a family atmosphere."
"You better pick something up over 32 years or you don't stay in the business long."
"There's some good [schemes]
here in the Big 12," Miller said.
And it's been a long ride for Miller to get back to Kansas. He said a lot has changed in the Big 12 which used to be the Big 8 when
BILL MILLER
Linebackers coach
"That's what we're here for, to get them ready to play against it."
Since he's come to Kansas, Miller has set some basic goals for his players. Miller wants to see a defensive squad that gets better every week.
The pass rush and the run defense are two of the things Kansas needs to improve on, Miller said. He said he's already seen the potential for a strong defensive effort from the players and he's determined to keep at it
"We've got a long way up the hill to get to where we want to be," Miller said.
with the players.
With Miller comes his family to Lawrence. He and his wife Lisa have two sons, Cole and Jackson, who have been with him for every game.
He said the long hours and multiple moves have been tough on the family, but he said he's lucky to have so much support. Miller notes that a sense of humor and toughness have helped his family through the ups and downs.
More than thirty years have passed since Miller played as a safety at the University of Texas at Arlington. Some things have changed, while others remain the same Miller said.
But being able to coach in his home state brings a smile to Miller's face, something you might not see from him when he's running drills at practice.
"It's just good to be back here in Kansas," Miller said.
Edited by Tim Burgess
BILL MILLER'S COACHING RESUME
Conference
Championships: 5
■ 1981-Drake
■ 1983, 1985-Nevada
■ 1989, 1996-Miami
Bowl Appearances: 10
■ 1986 Liberty
 (Minnesota)
1996 Carquest (Miami)
1998 Micron PC (Miami)
1999 Citrus
1998 Micron PC (Miami)
1999 Citrus
(Michigan State)
2001 Silicon Valley
(Michigan State)
2003 Outback (Florida)
2004 Beach (Florida)
2004 Peach (Florida)
(Arizona State)
(Arizona State)
2006 Insight
2007 International (Western Michigan)
MLB
Cubs finish three-day sweep at Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH — Carlos Zambrano won for the first time since July 22 by limiting the slumping-again Pirates to two runs over six innings, and the Cubs finished off a three-game sweep by beating Pittsburgh 8-5 on Wednesday.
Associated Press
No baskets on this court
Tanner Grubbs/KANSAN
MLB
NEW YORK — Derek Jeter and Lou Gehrig are tied at the top.
Wilson Yip, Wichita junior, digs a backhand shot to friend Pitts Pichet, Wichita junior, Sunday afternoon at the campus tennis courts. Students looking to share a common interest in tennis may join the KU Tennis Club, which meets at the same courts 6 p.m. -8 p.m.every Tuesday and Thursday.
Jeter matched the New York Yankees record for hits with a seventh-inning single Wednesday night against Tampa Bay. Jeter's third hit of the game gave him 2,721 in a Yankees uniform, tying a mark held by Gehrig for more than 70 years.
Jeter had a chance to break the record in the eighth inning, but he walked against reliever Grant Balfour.
Already on their feet in anticipation, fans at Yankee Stadium let loose with a roar when Jeter's sharp grounder inside the first-base line got by a diving Chris Richard in the seventh.
Jeter's parents, watching from an upstairs box between home plate and first base, raised their arms and exclaimed in excitement.
MLB Jeter ties Lou Gehrig for Yankees hit record
Jeter took off his helmet and twice waved it to the crowd of 45,848 during an ovation that lasted about 2 minutes. Rays players and coaches clapped as Jeter stood at first base.
Associated Press
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