by Ellin Walsh

Reporter

Cuyahoga Falls -- With the resignation of Greg Lazzari, Mike Miller has intercepted his dream job: head football coach at Cuyahoga Falls High School.

The Falls Board of Education unanimously approved Miller's hiring May 7. Board President Barbara Gunter was absent. Miller will receive $7,193 as head football coach for the 2008-09 school year. Lazzari resigned after two seasons to accept the head coaching position at Newton Falls.

"I'm from Cuyahoga Falls. I've lived here my entire life," Miller told Board members. "I have great pride in the community and I want to bring that pride back to the [football] program. This is something ... that I've wanted to do ever since I can remember."

A 1999 graduate of CFHS, Miller decided in the sixth grade that he wanted to be a physical education teacher and coach in Cuyahoga Falls, according to the district's athletic director, Jeffrey D. Harrison. Harrison noted Miller excelled in three sports at Falls High and was a four-year starter on the Mount Union College football team. Miller's college career in football and baseball included four conference titles and three national championships.

Miller has spent the last four years as an assistant football, basketball and baseball coach at Falls High. He currently teaches physical education.

In interviewing Miller, Harrison said he was "blown away" by the candidate.

"We knew he was a great guy, we knew he was a quality coach," Harrison said, "but we didn't know or realize the maturity level that he had ... And with this hire tonight ... our program is going to go up and it's going to go up because of the character he brings."

E-mail: ewalsh@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3908