WAVERLY, Iowa - Jim Miller doesn't like to take the time to look back at what he has done in 17 years at the helm of Wartburg wrestling.
Instead, he is consumed with what's to come rather than gazing into life's rear-view mirror.
"I avoid it," he said. "I believe that is one of the main reasons we have been successful for a very long time. We are always preparing and focusing for the next event just ahead of us and not looking ahead or behind."
However, a recent letter from the National Wrestling Coaches Association informing him of his upcoming induction into the Division III Coaches Hall of Fame gave him pause - for a few moments at least.
"Those type of moments do make me stop and reflect," he admitted. "It has been an amazing ride: The 16 straight Iowa Conference championships, the long (130 matches) dual win streak in the conference, finishing first or second in 14 of the last 16 years at nationals, our six national championships, our 100 All-Americans and 26 NCAA champions."
Miller's top highlight, though, is worth reflection, thinking about all the great young men that have come through the program in the last 18 years. "That really makes you feel good about what is going on here," he said.
The beginning of his remarkable accomplishments came about due to an eager coach looking for a program with potential.
"I was at the 1991 conference championships and had known that (former head coach) Bob Siddens was only to going to be (at Wartburg) for a year," Miller said. "I had been asking some contacts what they thought about the potential of the program and was hearing good things. So, I decided to throw my name into the mix for the position."
Once he took the reins in 1991, it didn't take long for changes to be evident. The Knights had two conference individual champions and three All-Americans in 1992 and then, in 1993, the first of the long run of league team titles, seven individual All-Americans and a runner-up national team finish.
Three short years later, the first of six national team titles arrived in Waverly.
"I would say 1993 and 1994 were definitely the key years," Miller remarked. "A tournament at Georgia Tech in 1993 with 16 colleges from all NCAA divisions helped get us on the national map. We were the only Division III school there and, as our guys started winning, the people at the meet would ask us 'Where is Wartburg?' We answered and gave some information to the public address person. He announced a bunch of facts about us in the finals, and we won the team title.
"I remember calling (former assistant coach) Steve Walker and telling him we won, and he just said 'What? No way!' and I said, 'Oh yeah!'"
"That type of a championship helped change the recruiting landscape a little bit," he added. "We had a key class come in, beginning in 1994, and those guys helped pave the way for the 1996 national championship. From there, losses have been few and far between."
Miller also realizes a number of factors have enabled the Knights to reach their level of success.
"Creating a championship environment and having outstanding assistant coaches along the way have been most important," Miller said. "But you also need support from your administration, as well as the community as a whole, to consistently challenge for national championships."
Miller recalled the road taken to reach the Hall of Fame. "I have had a great experiences at every stop in my coaching career: One year at Riceville High School as an assistant, six years as head coach at Charles City High School, and eight years as an assistant coach at the University of Northern Iowa.
"But my Wartburg experience has definitely been the highlight," he added. "It's the best career decision I ever made."
Talk of past successes aside, Miller is all about now. "I need to focus on this weekend," he said. "Our best performance is still ahead of us."
Miller will join the NWCA Division III Coaches Hall of Fame Thursday night, March 5, the evening before the opening of the 2009 NCAA Division III Championships in Cedar Rapids. There will be a reception in coach Miller's honor, following the induction ceremony, from 8:30-10:30 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center in Cedar Rapids.
Instead, he is consumed with what's to come rather than gazing into life's rear-view mirror.
"I avoid it," he said. "I believe that is one of the main reasons we have been successful for a very long time. We are always preparing and focusing for the next event just ahead of us and not looking ahead or behind."
However, a recent letter from the National Wrestling Coaches Association informing him of his upcoming induction into the Division III Coaches Hall of Fame gave him pause - for a few moments at least.
"Those type of moments do make me stop and reflect," he admitted. "It has been an amazing ride: The 16 straight Iowa Conference championships, the long (130 matches) dual win streak in the conference, finishing first or second in 14 of the last 16 years at nationals, our six national championships, our 100 All-Americans and 26 NCAA champions."
Miller's top highlight, though, is worth reflection, thinking about all the great young men that have come through the program in the last 18 years. "That really makes you feel good about what is going on here," he said.
The beginning of his remarkable accomplishments came about due to an eager coach looking for a program with potential.
"I was at the 1991 conference championships and had known that (former head coach) Bob Siddens was only to going to be (at Wartburg) for a year," Miller said. "I had been asking some contacts what they thought about the potential of the program and was hearing good things. So, I decided to throw my name into the mix for the position."
Once he took the reins in 1991, it didn't take long for changes to be evident. The Knights had two conference individual champions and three All-Americans in 1992 and then, in 1993, the first of the long run of league team titles, seven individual All-Americans and a runner-up national team finish.
Three short years later, the first of six national team titles arrived in Waverly.
"I would say 1993 and 1994 were definitely the key years," Miller remarked. "A tournament at Georgia Tech in 1993 with 16 colleges from all NCAA divisions helped get us on the national map. We were the only Division III school there and, as our guys started winning, the people at the meet would ask us 'Where is Wartburg?' We answered and gave some information to the public address person. He announced a bunch of facts about us in the finals, and we won the team title.
"I remember calling (former assistant coach) Steve Walker and telling him we won, and he just said 'What? No way!' and I said, 'Oh yeah!'"
"That type of a championship helped change the recruiting landscape a little bit," he added. "We had a key class come in, beginning in 1994, and those guys helped pave the way for the 1996 national championship. From there, losses have been few and far between."
Miller also realizes a number of factors have enabled the Knights to reach their level of success.
"Creating a championship environment and having outstanding assistant coaches along the way have been most important," Miller said. "But you also need support from your administration, as well as the community as a whole, to consistently challenge for national championships."
Miller recalled the road taken to reach the Hall of Fame. "I have had a great experiences at every stop in my coaching career: One year at Riceville High School as an assistant, six years as head coach at Charles City High School, and eight years as an assistant coach at the University of Northern Iowa.
"But my Wartburg experience has definitely been the highlight," he added. "It's the best career decision I ever made."
Talk of past successes aside, Miller is all about now. "I need to focus on this weekend," he said. "Our best performance is still ahead of us."
Miller will join the NWCA Division III Coaches Hall of Fame Thursday night, March 5, the evening before the opening of the 2009 NCAA Division III Championships in Cedar Rapids. There will be a reception in coach Miller's honor, following the induction ceremony, from 8:30-10:30 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center in Cedar Rapids.
Read More#
National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s "Women’s Wrestling Memorable Moments" Exhibit to be Featured at PHAN-X in Philadelphia
Grand View out in front entering day two of NAIA Championships
Wide open race for NCAA Div. III team title this weekend; four teams have been No. 1 this season
Wartburg and Johnson & Wales tie for NCAA Div. III Nationals team title
