Nate Miller (soccer)

Nate Miller
Personal information
Full name	Nathan David Miller
Date of birth	February 24, 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth	Jerusalem, Israel
College career
Years	Team
2004–2008	Taylor Trojans
Managerial career
2010–2012	Taylor Trojans (assistant)
2013–2018	Spring Arbor Cougars
2015–2018	Lansing United
2018–2019	Lansing Ignite
2020–2022	San Diego Loyal (assistant)
2023	San Diego Loyal
2024–	Real Salt Lake (assistant)

Nathan David Miller (born February 24, 1986) is an American soccer coach who is currently an assistant coach for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake. He is known for his distinct, attacking style of play. ^[1]

Playing career

Miller played for Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He then attended Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, where he was a four-year starting midfielder from 2004–2008.^[2] He was selected to the Mid-Central College Conference (MCC) All-Conference team in 2005 and 2006 and to the All-Region team in 2007. Miller served as captain of the Trojan soccer team his senior year. After college, Miller played central midfield for the Vikings AA semi-professional soccer league in Chicago, IL.^[3]

Coaching career

Amateur and College

Miller began his coaching career as an assistant at Taylor University. He is credited with turning around Taylor University's soccer program from 14–23–1 in the two years prior to his arrival, to a three year record of 40–19–2, including 2011's season where the Trojans were 19–2–1 and ranked 17th in the NAIA.

Miller served as head coach of the Spring Arbor University men's soccer team from 2013–2018. He also served as the head coach and general manager for Lansing United, a former member of the Premier Development League now known as USL League Two, from 2015–2018. Under Miller, in 2018, Spring Arbor had one of the best seasons in program history leading to Miller becoming the conference coach of the year. Miller's record with Lansing United was 20–13–12. ^[4]

Professional

In November 2018, he was named head coach of USL League One expansion side Lansing Ignite FC. Miller led the side to a 2nd place regular season finish in USL League One, however, the team lost in the playoff semi-finals to Greenville Triumph SC. In total, Miller led Lansing to 13–8–10 season, with a 42% win percentage.^[5] On January 8, 2020, it was announced that Miller would join Landon Donovan's staff as associate head coach with San Diego Loyal in preparation for the team's inaugural season in the USL Championship.^[6]

Miller was promoted to head coach of San Diego Loyal on December 2, 2022, where he coached through the 2022-2023 season.^[7] In August 2023 it was announced that the San Diego Loyal franchise would cease operations after the 2023 season, due to the recent announcement of the introduction of a Major League Soccer team to San Diego.^[8] In January 2024, it was rumored he would take on the First Assistant Coach role at Real Salt Lake under Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni.

On January 16, 2024, Miller was officially announced as part of the Real Salt Lake coaching staff.^[9]

Personal life

Miller was born in Jerusalem. At the age of 7, he moved with his family to Kenya. At the age of 13, he moved to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He has been married to his wife Darcy Miller since 2009. They live with their three children in Salt Lake City, Utah.

References

^ KUTV, David James (May 23, 2024). "Talkin' Sports: RSL assistant coach learned Real's attacks internationally". KJZZ. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
^ "'Low moments' put soccer in full perspective for Lansing Ignite coach Nate Miller". Lansing State Journal. March 28, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
^ SAU Athletics (March 5, 2013). "Spring Arbor University names Nate Miller as Head Coach of Men's Soccer". Mlive. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
^ lansingignite. "Technical Staff". lansingignite. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
^ "Lansing Ignite falls to Greenville Triumph, 1–0, in USL League One semifinals". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
^ Friend, Phil. "Former Lansing Ignite coach Nate Miller joins Landon Donovan's staff with San Diego Loyal". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
^ "Landon Donovan moves full-time to SD Loyal Executive VP of Soccer Operations". USLChampionship.com. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
^ Rueter, Jeff. "San Diego Loyal folding after 2023 USL season". The Athletic. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
^ "RSL Unveils 2024 Coaching Staff". RSL.com. Real Salt Lake. Retrieved January 16, 2024.

[1] KUTV, David James (May 23, 2024). "Talkin' Sports: RSL assistant coach learned Real's attacks internationally". KJZZ. Retrieved July 8, 2024.

[2] "'Low moments' put soccer in full perspective for Lansing Ignite coach Nate Miller". Lansing State Journal. March 28, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.

[mlive-3] SAU Athletics (March 5, 2013). "Spring Arbor University names Nate Miller as Head Coach of Men's Soccer". Mlive. Retrieved October 3, 2014.

[lansingignite-4] singignite. "Technical Staff". lansingignite. Retrieved April 11, 2019.

[5] "Lansing Ignite falls to Greenville Triumph, 1–0, in USL League One semifinals". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2019.

[6] Friend, Phil. "Former Lansing Ignite coach Nate Miller joins Landon Donovan's staff with San Diego Loyal". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved January 9, 2024.

[7] "Landon Donovan moves full-time to SD Loyal Executive VP of Soccer Operations". USLChampionship.com. Retrieved December 2, 2022.

[8] Rueter, Jeff. "San Diego Loyal folding after 2023 USL season". The Athletic. Retrieved January 9, 2024.

[9] "RSL Unveils 2024 Coaching Staff". RSL.com. Real Salt Lake. Retrieved January 16, 2024.

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