Your future, our focus
Would you rather coach men’s soccer or women’s soccer?
Aaron Miller has an easy answer to the question: “I prefer coaching both.”
He’ll get that opportunity this fall when he assumes the head coaching responsibility for both soccer programs at Northwest College.
Miller served as head coach of the NWC women’s soccer team in the 2019 season. When men’s soccer coach Ben McArthur resigned at year-end to accept a similar position at Casper College, Miller applied for the vacated men’s job. He got it in February.
NWC then turned to filling the women’s soccer coaching position. But COVID-19 complications hovered. After a job posting and advertising period, the college came back to Miller.
“With the virus, we didn’t think we could go through the full process and get someone hired in time to recruit and retain athletes,” said NWC Athletic Director Brian Erickson. Miller has the women’s head job for the coming soccer season, with the timeline for hiring another head women’s coach likely on hold.
That’s just fine as far as Miller is concerned. He’s been looking after both programs in recent months anyway.
“Once we returned from the Christmas break, I realized that many of the players on the men’s team were needing guidance,” Miller said.
Sophomores needed help in transferring to four-year schools — as well as direction for spring training, scheduling and some support in academic monitoring.
“I just took it upon myself to incorporate them in all spring activities that were already happening with the women’s team,” Miller said.
As far as recruiting, there is no good blueprint for how to best find and sell a prospect during this time of uncertainty, Miller said. But he remains confident of what NWC can offer in the student-athlete experience.
“I know we can put together a competitive men’s and women’s team loaded with talent, but also of high quality character,” he said.
Miller has coached men’s and women’s teams before. In 2012, he started and was head coach of both the men’s and women’s soccer program at Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, Colorado — winning a Region IX title for Trinidad on the NWC soccer field in 2014.
Plans to hire a full-time assistant coach are still evolving, Miller said.
He’s had support in the past from long-time assistant coach Luiz Miguel. Also, Powell High School soccer coach David Gilliatt has been a presence on the sidelines for NWC soccer. Miller said both are committed to NWC soccer and students in the program.