The 22 Days of Phenom’s Joe Miller Invitational
By Jamie Shaw
Why We Are Thankful For Phenom’s Joe Miller Invitational
From December 27-30, Wilmington, North Carolina will play host a national basketball tournament as Phenom Hoops brings the 1st Annual Phenom’s Joe Miller Invitational. The historic Brogden Hall at New Hanover High School, which holds 3,500 fans will have 16 Top 150 ranked prospects, 3 nationally ranked teams, and players who are committed to schools like UNC, Kentucky, South Carolina, and Washington.
As we countdown to the start of Phenom’s Joe Miller Invitational, each day we will give another reason why we are thankful for the Joe Miller Invitational.
Reason #22
It Honors a North Carolina Legend – Joe Miller
Miller is a member of the Great Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame. Joe Miller retired as one of the most successful coaches in New Hanover County history.
Miller coached football at New Hanover High School for over 20 years. During his stint there he won 186 games as a head coach. With 3 former players, playing in the NFL, Miller won a state championship, 9 conference titles, and even had his team ranked #4 in the nation in 1991. He also served as a 2-time coach in the Shrine Bowl, a prestigious honor as they reward the state’s best coaches.
Miller’s coaching prowess also transcended sports as he won New Hanover’s first girls’ softball state championship in 1975-76. These back-to-back softball championships were in the first two years that NCHSAA offered the championship.
After his 20 year coaching stint at New Hanover he moved on to serve as the school’s athletic director for 8 years. He then took on the role of New Hanover School System Athletic Director for 15 years, leading to his retirement in 2009.
Even through all Joe Miller achieved, he also gave back (with Miller, it was always about the kids). Miller was behind the annual BB&T Jamboree, which has raised over $1,000,000 in scholarships over the event’s lifetime.
Even though Miller made his name coaching football, he comes from a legendary basketball family. His brother Tim Miller was a player at Saint Vincent College then went on to start the Maryland 3D AAU program where he has coached 5 different ranked AAU teams. His brother John had a legendary career coaching in Pittsburgh which included 4 state championships and 657 career wins.
Joe Miller’s nephew Matt Miller, son of Tim, played at New Hampshire and is now a Graduate Assistant at the University of Arizona. His other two nephews Sean and Archie, sons of John, are the Head Coaches at Arizona and Dayton, respectively. Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari is a cousin.
Coaching runs in the Miller family, each of them incredibly successful. Joe Miller forged his legacy in Wilmington, North Carolina and we are grateful to have this nationally recognized event, in his honor.