Lely football coach Dave Miller resigns

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Dave Miller in his first game as Lely interim head coach in 2009 as he talked with his players during a timeout in a game against Gulf Coast. Miller resigned as head coach on Friday.

Lely High head football coach Dave Miller resigned today. He submitted his letter of resignation this morning.

Neil Loebig, the team’s offensive coordinator, has been named the interim head coach.

Matt Kuk, the school’s activities director, said Loebig will handle the off-season football strength and conditioning program.

In his three years as head coach, Miller was 9-20.

After going 2-8 in 2010, Lely was 1-9 last season.

Kuk said, “No one has been interviewed for the position, as the position plans to be posted on Monday, Dec. 12.”

In a statement, issued by the school, it said, “Lely High School is announcing the resignation of head football coach Dave Miller in order for him to spend more time with his family.

“Coach Miller has been the head coach at Lely since 2009 and spent nine years total coaching within the Trojan football program. We would like to not only thank Coach Miller for his dedication to Lely football, but also for providing a positive influence on our youth, inside and outside the classroom. Coach Miller will continue to teach Social Studies at Lely.”

Miller was part of former coach Steve Metzger’s staff that revived the Lely program, beginning in 2003. Miller went with Metzger when he left Lely in 2007 to take over a program in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Miller returned to Lely as an assistant under Steve Pricer for the 2008 season.

Miller was an assistant until Pricer was controversially dismissed after the first game of 2009, when Miller took over as interim head coach.

The Trojans finished 6-4 that season, 6-3 under Miller.

Eight games into last season Miller took some heat for dropping Brian Johnessee, the team’s offensive line coach and strength and conditioning coach for six years.

In talking with Miller on his decision to resign, he said, “Football takes up a whole lot of time. When I look at the big picture I have to consider my little daughter (Mia, 2 1/2) and my family.”

Miller said, like other coaches, football is a year-round job.

“Even in the off season I was gone almost every Saturday,” he said. “It takes a lot of dedication. I have a lot of respect for head coaches.”

He also has respect for the kids in the football program.

“We have kids working to do it the right way,” he said. “We have some great freshman and sophomores coming up.”