The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

To say that Willie Miller is someone many people may remember competing on the football field or on the wrestling mat for the Chinook Sugarbeeters is a safe bet to those who have followed sports along the Hi-Line for even a few years.

If you didn't see him play football or see him wrestle you probably heard something about him, some good, some bad, but he made an impression.

Miller a 2010 graduate of Chinook High School returns to the sideline this fall as an Assistant Coach for the Chinook Sugarbeeter football team.

Miller was an All-State Football player as well as an All-State Wrestler and State Champion.

More recently Miller competed for the Montana State University Northern Lights at the NAIA National Wrestling Tournament.

Last season he served as a Graduate Assistant for the Lights Wrestling program under Head Coach Tyson Thivierge

Miller gave his coaches fits from time to time during his career but also gave all he had while competing on the football field or on the wrestling mat and matured into a true leader who will bring passion and energy to the Sugarbeeter football team.

"It's a lot different from playing," said Miller "I think coaching is actually harder than playing the sport."

Through a week and a half worth of two a day football practices it is clear that he has the passion and desire to help the kids be the best football players they can be.

When asked what he enjoyed about practice so far Miller replied, "Running them through the different drills and watching them click and seeing when the light comes on when they start to understand what we're asking them to do."

The biggest difference Miller noticed is the amount of time coaches put into preparing the team for a practice or a game, "As a player you go to practice do what the coach asks you. As a coach we're planning out practice drills, schedules, scheming, designing offenses, defenses, watching game film. Their is so much more time spent preparing but I'm enjoying it."

Head Coach Christian Lehnert is thrilled to have Willie on the staff, "Willie has been an awesome addition to the coaching staff. Even though he hasn't played football in a while he had a very successful collegiate career in wrestling and has brought a lot of those attributes to the football field. His competitiveness, toughness and passion for the game is there every practice. Willie has been our conditioning coach, line coach and defensive coordinator. He has been doing a great job with all of those responsibilities," stated Lehnert.

Miller had his share of discipline as a player and now is the one in charge of it, "I know, I can relate but I've learned how to control the emotion, to channel it and I can help them to use that energy to help the team rather than hurt it."

Joining the Sugarbeeter coaching staff on the sidelines will be Willie's Dad Perry Miller and his High School Coach Matt Molyneaux, "They have been fantastic, we can't thank them enough. We are young coaches and they mentor us, if we start getting a little off track they might say, what about this or what about that to get us back on track but they let us do our thing. It's great having them there to help us."

Now Miller is all smiles and can't wait to join his team on the field Saturday night in Choteau. "I'm excited, ready for the hype of the game, being with the guys, the atmosphere and the adrenaline. Eight man football is a rush, it's right up there with Nationals. I can't wait to put on the Black and Orange and join my team on the sideline. Once a Sugarbeeter, always a Sugarbeeter," concluded Miller.