After spending five years as assistant coach, Riley Miller is ready to fill in her father Sean Miller’s footsteps as Blaine’s new head softball coach.
The two had coached together since the 2019 season, when Blaine went just 4-16. Since then, the Millers brought the program many wins, including the first state tournament appearance since 2009.
“I actually have been super fortunate while coaching with my dad because he never made me feel less than and we were always a pair,” Miller said. “I was always able to feel like I had a say.”
Sean stepped down at the end of last season to get out of the spotlight after five seasons leading the Borderites. He totaled 63 wins, 42 of which were Northwest Conference wins that included a 31-13 conference record in the last three seasons.
“I couldn’t be happier with their selection, but to be honest it was a no-brainer,” Sean said.
One of the biggest challenges for her will be finding an identity for her team, she said.
“We’re going to be scrappy, which I’m super excited for,” Miller said.
This season’s team will feature four returning varsity starters, a freshman starting and bench players from past seasons.
As a former Blaine High School varsity softball player of four years, Miller knows what it takes to be a high school athlete.
“I can’t imagine coaching anywhere else,” Miller said. “I have an immense amount of pride, and I love being a Borderite.”
After graduating high school, Miller began coaching the youth 12U team in Blaine, which featured a group of girls she would coach throughout their middle and high school careers until they graduated last season.
“It’s my first year coaching without them,” Miller said. “It’s a little nerve wracking, but I know I was brought up by the best.”
Miller also coaches the middle school softball team that plays in the fall. She is dedicated to the youth programs setting up the next generations of Borderites.
“I love playing a role in growing other Borderites and creating a culture where kids want to be a Borderite,” Miller said. “We could not do what we do without our youth program and all the volunteers.”
Miller and Blaine baseball head coach Hunter Anderson hosted open batting practice during the offseason to familiarize fourth through sixth graders with the youth baseball and softball teams.
“I know Riley and I will be out watching their little league games whenever we can get away from our own team after practice,” Anderson said.
In this season’s high school team, Miller has seen they have the ability to compete at a high level in the Northwest Conference.
“We have a really good core group of girls,” Miller said.
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