Marty L. Miller
Athletics Director

Phone: (757) 823-8152
Email: mlmiller@nsu.edu

Marty Miller has been called many things during his tenure at Norfolk State University. Some have called him a rock. Others have referred to him as one of Norfolk State’s greatest ambassadors. Regardless of the label, what’s clear is that Miller has served his alma mater in various capacities for more than 35 years, providing NSU with stability in times of need.

His professional career at Norfolk State has included stints in the areas of financial aid, career services, student affairs and athletics. After winning more than 700 games as the school’s baseball coach, Miller was named NSU’s acting athletics director on December 16, 2004. He was appointed to the permanent athletics director post on March 18, 2005.

Early in Miller’s tenure, he was confronted with many challenges, the biggest one being the hiring of a football coach. Miller and his search committee worked during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to find a football coach. The hard work paid off when the decision was made to hire Pete Adrian from Bethune-Cookman College. With approval of then-President Dr. Marie V. McDemmond, Adrian became the first white head coach in any major sport at NSU and the second ever in MEAC football history.

Shortly thereafter, with help from alumni, fans, friends and the Department of Facilities Management, the athletics department was able to raise funds to renovate and purchase new equipment for the weight room. In 2007, the school completed a major renovation of the NSU Softball Field, which included the installation of new team dugouts and a press box. Bleacher renovations to Joseph Echols Hall are underway for 2008-09.

Another highlight of his tenure as athletics director includes NSU capturing the last four Talmadge Layman Hill awards, given annually to the top men’s sports program in the conference. NSU received $25,000 for winning each award. Miller was also presented in March 2006 with the Tom Fergusson Memorial Award, given annually to the area’s top sportsman by the Norfolk Sports Club.

Miller is no stranger to winning. His career record as baseball coach was 718-543-3. Miller first started making a name for himself as a player at NSU from 1965-68. He hit .380 as a sophomore; .438 with eight doubles, two triples, three homers and 27 RBI as a junior; and .406 as a senior, when he became the first Spartan player to be named an NCAA College Division All-American.

Miller graduated with a bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1969. An ROTC member in college, Miller was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army after he graduated. While on active duty, Miller was signed by the Minnesota Twins. Miller returned to his alma mater in 1972 as an assistant to baseball coach Bob Andrews. The next season, Miller inherited the head-coaching job, which he held until early in 2005.

His coaching beginning was modest. Miller's first team at NSU, the 1973 edition, went 0-12, but that would not last. The next year, NSU went 7-1 against CIAA competition as Miller served notice that the Spartans would be a force for some time.

Miller is the winningest baseball coach in CIAA history, having led the Spartans to a 584-374-3 record in their years in the league. Miller's ledger in the CIAA includes 17 conference championships, including seven in a row from 1987-93; 12 post-season appearances; 15 CIAA Coach of the Year awards; six All-Americans and 22 players signed to pro contracts. He also won the 1980 NAIA District 19 Coach of the Year award after his team won the District 19 title.

In 1997, NSU honored Miller by building the Marty L. Miller Baseball Field. One year later, Miller led NSU to the MEAC Tournament championship round in the Spartans' first year in the league. He was named the MEAC Coach of the Year in 2000, and NSU reached the championship round again in 2001.

The year 2003 was also a special one for Miller. In February, Miller was inducted into the CIAA's John B. McLendon Hall of Fame. In May, Miller earned his 700th career win with the Spartans when sixth-seeded NSU upset No. 2 Delaware State in the MEAC tournament. In August, Miller the player was honored as one of eight inductees into the Norfolk State University Athletics Foundation Sports Hall of Fame.

Miller, a native of Danville, Va., also serves on the Norfolk Sports Club Board of Directors. He and his wife Liz have one son, Marty Eric, a former NSU outfielder.

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