Frosty Westering’s book – “Make the Big Time Where You Are” – was published in February 2001. By that time, Dave Miller already knew that he could thrive without venturing far from home. Since then, he has continued to coach and influence young athletes and students for another 20-plus years.

 

Miller graduated from Clover Park High in 1977 then crossed I-5 to attend Pacific Lutheran University, graduating in 1982. Since then, he’s settled in Lakewood and coached thousands of kids over more than 40 years at Clover Park and Lakes High.

 

Since he became the head football coach at Lakes in 1999, his teams have won 202 games and lost just 58. The Lancers have reached the state playoffs 22 times and won 11 league titles. Ten times, yes 10, Miller has been a league Coach of the Year. He’s not done yet, but he has already been inducted in the Washington State Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2020).

He was the Washington State District 3 Head Coach of the Year in 2005 and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chapter of the National Football Foundation Coach of the Year 2002. Partly due to his long history of developing major college recruits, Miller was chosen to coach in the nationally acclaimed U.S. Army All-American game in January 2009. He has also been a head coach in the Washington East-West All-State game in Everett (2010).

 

Before he became the head coach at Lakes, he was a long-time assistant (1986-1999) for the Lancers, including for the 1997 season when he was the offensive coordinator and Lakes went 13-0 to win the Class 3A state championship. In 2000, Miller guided the Lancers back to the state title game, losing to Skyline.

 

Miller has had some elite talent to coach. Five former Lancers – Jermaine Kearse, Zach Banner, Reggie Williams, Benning Potoa’e and Hillary Butler – reached the NFL. His son Drew also was a two-time Washington state player of the year and NCAA quarterback.

 

Effort in the classroom has also been a point of emphasis. Miller’s teams were selected for the Daffodil Festival Football Scholastic Achievement Award in 2000, 2002, and 2005. In 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2021, his teams won WIAA Distinguished Scholastic Awards.

 

In the spring, he has been involved with the Lakes track & field team since 1989, including a stint as the head boys track coach from 2007-2010.