After a decade and a half as an assistant coach at the college level, Ron Miller has shown he has a knack for winning as a high school coach.
He is only in his third season at West York, but the Bulldogs have reached the postseason all three years and just did what no YAIAA team has ever been able to do -- win a District 3 Class AAA title. He also did it against a man he admires and whose success he hopes to replicate.
"Honestly, I look to (Manheim Central coach) Mike Williams as a role model, the way he has run his program," Miller said a few minutes after Friday's 15-7 victory over the Barons to keep Manheim Central from winning it's 16th title since 1989. "He's been a good role model to me. I respect what he's done so much and he did a great job helping me and preparing his team."
Plus, Miller did it without Brandon Real, which might speak to the coaching abilities of him and his staff more than anything.
Using multiple backs, the Bulldogs rushed for 211 yards against Manheim Central and earned 11 first downs. Miller and his staff had to adjust on the fly when Real went down with a broken collarbone last week and they proved they can scheme with the best of them.
No matter how well the Bulldogs do on Friday or the following week, if Miller is trying to follow the Williams model he will have to find success year after year. He said he won't be surprised if he ends up running into Manheim Central again during the 2009 playoffs.
"Let's not forget, he's got an offense that had nine juniors on it," Miller said of Williams. "Expect to see him back here next year."
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