Hofstra's Head Softball Coach Jay Miller Announces Retirement
Courtesy of Hofstra Athletic Communications
Hempstead, N.Y. (June 7, 2021) - Hofstra University Head Softball Coach Jay Miller announced today he is retiring from coaching.
Miller was named head coach of the Hofstra softball program in June 2018 and completed his third season with the Pride in 2021. Hofstra won 16 games and advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association Championship tournament this past season.
"What an incredible ride it has been. When I fell into coaching in 1979 while pursuing my PhD at Purdue, I knew I had found my passion," Miller said. "Now, 42 years later, I have been so blessed with a lifetime of memories this game has provided. I've had great staffs, met wonderful coaching colleagues, but most importantly, coached outstanding student-athletes who worked hard and had a true love of the game. A very special thank you to Hofstra, Rick Cole Jr. and all the incredible members of our athletic department – student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and alums – for their support over the past three seasons."
In his 34 seasons as a head coach, Miller amassed 1,075 wins, which ranks him among the winningest coaches in the sport's history. During his career, Miller took two teams to the Women's College World Series, had 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and won three conference championships. He was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame in 2008.
"Coach Miller is a legend in the collegiate softball world and we thank him for leading our program over the past three seasons," mentioned Hofstra Vice President and Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr. "Jay has had a hall of fame career and we appreciate all he has done for the Hofstra softball program during his tenure. His teams competed hard and represented Hofstra well."
Miller's extensive coaching career has also seen him make stops as a head coach at Purdue, Oklahoma City, Missouri, and Mississippi State, and as an assistant coach at Louisville and Rutgers. He also spent more than two decades on the USA Softball National Team staff, including serving as head coach in 2009 and 2010, winning the 2010 World Championship. He also helmed the USA Softball Junior National Team from 2006-07, going a perfect 20-0 and taking home a World Championship in 2007.
A leading authority on the sport, Miller is a charter member of the NFCA and has spent time on the NCAA Softball Rules Committee, the NFCA All-American Committee, the USA Softball Olympic Selection Committee, the NFCA Board of Directors and the NCAA Softball Championships Committee. Miller has also authored more than 40 articles, including a chapter on offensive strategy for the "Softball Coaching Bible." He is considered one of the top softball clinicians in the world, having worked as a lead instructor for the National Fastpitch Coaches College, and other clinics in the United States, Netherlands Antilles, Italy, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Spain, Czech Republic, Holland, France, and Malaysia.