A new scoreboard will not only show the score of future soccer games at Hillcrest Academy, but will commemorate longtime Head Coach Marcus Miller. Under the lights Friday night, as more than 30 former players warmed up for the annual alumni soccer game, Hillcrest Director of Advancement Jeremy Ours announced the naming of the field. Miller is entering his 33rd season this year on the pitch. Ours described the coach who has a record of 305-202-10 and one state championship, “As evident by his tremendous record, Marcus has always found a way to get the most out of his teams by building great team chemistry. Marcus is considered a player’s coach – meaning he’s there for his players on and off the field. He doesn’t just preach his adoptive motto of ‘You’ll never walk alone,’ to his soccer teams, he practices it. No matter what, he’s there for his team.”
The crowd including parents, current students, and former players applauded the dedication. Ours said, “Marcus, you once said in an interview, that a soccer field always felt like home. This field will now be your home for generations to come with your name in bold, two-foot letters for every player and fan to see. Congratulations.”
Miller was honored and shared what it felt like, “It brings back memories when the first time I really ever played soccer was on this field as a sophomore. And its a sport that, unlike some other sports, it felt natural. And I really enjoyed it, and was able to play the next three years and then played a couple years in college. So, it’s been a part of my life for a long time. Good relationships and lots of good memories built here over the last 30 years as a coach, and the years I played.”
Miller played on the school’s soccer team on this field in the 1970s, including the only unbeaten season 14-0 in 1975. He looks ahead to seeing soccer grow locally, “It’s nice to come out here on a Sunday afternoon or Sunday evening sometimes, Saturday evening, and you’ll see 20 people out here playing. Some dads who played with me and now their sons are junior high or high school age and they’re out here playing with them. It’s just fun to see the soccer community that’s being built. I still remember when I first started coaching we were trying to find an assistant and it was like who in the area knows anything about soccer and it was really hard to come up with names. And now we’ve got, there’s a whole pool of guys that are here that could help. It’s just nice to see it grow and be a small part of that.”
Miller thanked his assistant coaches and the community for its support. With recent graduates and some athletes who were seniors on Miller’s first team, the alumni game kicked off on what will now be known as Marcus Miller Field.
