Doug Miller headed to National High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame

The Repository
·2 min read
East Canton baseball coach Doug Miller encourages his team during a 2019 game.
East Canton baseball coach Doug Miller encourages his team during a 2019 game.

EAST CANTON — One of the greatest high school coaches in Stark County history is receiving another honor.

East Canton baseball coach Doug Miller is part of the National High School Baseball Coaches Association's 2023 Hall of Fame class.

Miller will be inducted during the NHSBCA's national convention, Nov. 30-Dec. 3, in Phoenix.

A long-time Central Catholic coach, teacher and administrator now at East Canton, Miller retired as East Canton's athletic director last year, ending a 43-year career in education. He continues on as the Hornets' baseball coach this spring, which by that time he will be 71.

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Miller's career record is 768-313 in 40 years as a head coach, with the 768 wins tying for fourth in Ohio high school baseball history according to Ohio High School Athletic Association unofficial records. He's one win behind Dennis T. Woods for third and 11 behind Tom Held for second. Hebron Lakewood's Don Thorp is first with 1,011 wins. Miller won 704 of the games with Central Catholic.

Central Catholic pitcher Joe Tann (left) meets with head coach Doug Miller and catcher Alex Grove during their 2011 state championship season.
Central Catholic pitcher Joe Tann (left) meets with head coach Doug Miller and catcher Alex Grove during their 2011 state championship season.

Miller led Central to three state championships (2008, 2011, 2015), two state runner-up finishes (1997, 2003), six regional championships and 13 district championships. He started at Central in 1979 and became the baseball coach in 1982, holding that job until 2016. He also served as the girls basketball head coach, boys basketball head coach and assistant football coach at Central.

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Miller went to East Canton in 2017. Two years later he guided the Hornets' baseball team to an Inter-Valley Conference North Division title, the program's first league championship of any kind since 1968.

Miller was inducted into the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2006. He was the American Baseball Coaches Association Division III District 4 Coach of the Year and the NHSBCA Upper Midwest Region 4 Coach of the Year in 2011. He earned the OHSAA Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award in 2016.

East Canton athletic director and baseball coach Doug Miller waves to the crowd before superintendent Kevin Finefrock presents him with a plaque Tuesday night. Miller is retiring as AD at the end of the school year, but still plans to coach baseball at East Canton.
East Canton athletic director and baseball coach Doug Miller waves to the crowd before superintendent Kevin Finefrock presents him with a plaque Tuesday night. Miller is retiring as AD at the end of the school year, but still plans to coach baseball at East Canton.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: East Canton baseball coach Doug Miller gains national HOF honor