By Steven Hendrixson
Miller currently coaches both Junior High and High School Baseball, bringing with him a strong background in athletics and education.
A member of the Marshall High School Class of 2015, Miller was a three-year varsity baseball player and a three-year medalist on the Varsity Golf Team. His love for sports continued after high school as he attended Indiana State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He later earned a master’s degree in education from Eastern Illinois University.
During his time at Indiana State, Miller also gained experience in sports media. He worked as a sports writer for the school newspaper and later served as a Media Relations Intern for the Evansville Otters professional baseball team.
For Miller, coaching is about more than teaching the fundamentals of baseball. His favorite part of coaching is “being able to invest into the character of my student athletes.” He values the opportunity to be a positive influence on young men and help them develop qualities that will benefit them long after their playing days are over.
Miller’s passion for coaching comes from his lifelong love of sports, especially baseball. He has always enjoyed the game and wanted the opportunity to share that passion with younger players.
One of the biggest lessons Miller tries to instill in his athletes is the importance of focusing on what they can control.
“The only two things within their control are their attitude and their effort,” Miller explains. He encourages his players to focus on those two things rather than worrying about things outside of their control.
While coaching can be rewarding, it also comes with sacrifices. Miller says the biggest challenge is the long hours away from his wife and daughter. Still, the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of his players makes the commitment worthwhile.
His advice to young baseball players in the Marshall area is simple: watch the great players and learn from them. Miller encourages athletes to study what makes successful players great and apply those lessons to their own development. He believes that advice can extend beyond baseball to any sport an athlete chooses to pursue.
With eight years of coaching experience, a background in baseball, golf, education and sports media, Colan Miller continues to make an impact on the field and in the lives of his student-athletes.
For Miller, coaching is ultimately about more than baseball. It is about helping young people develop the attitude, effort and character they need to succeed.