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June 6, 2008
OXFORD, Ohio - Don Miller's retirement this month at Miami University signals the end of a career that has been an integral part of several generations of RedHawk student-athletes, coaches and administrators.
The Franklin, Ohio native, nicknamed "Donzer", has been a fulltime staff member of Miami's athletic program since 1974 when he took over for Jon Falk as the department's equipment manager.
Miller earned both a bachelor's degree (1970) and a master's degree (1974) from Miami. He was a two-time baseball letter winner for Coach Bud Middaugh in 1968 and '69, earning MVP honors as a senior. It was his time with the baseball team that gave him his most memorable moment.
"I'll never forget coming up to bat in the bottom of the ninth inning against Marshall," said Miller. "I was hitting about a buck (.100) at the time, the bases were loaded and we were trailing 4-3. I was fortunate enough to line a single over the shortstop to score the tying and winning runs. The next thing I knew, I was being carried off the field by my teammates. It was quite a thrill."
When asked to recall some of the memorable student-athletes he served, three names immediately came to mind for the 60-year-old Miller.
"In baseball, Billy Doran and Tim Naehring became great friends of mine and still are today," said Miller. "Bob Babich, an All-American football player for Miami, was another guy I really looked up to. When they're back in town, we always get together."
Miller's office is located under the west side of Yager Stadium, and he's personally coordinated football's equipment needs since the 1970s. He said that Miami's unforgettable years of 1973, '74 and '75, when the team compiled a nearly perfect 32-1-1 record, were one of his favorite periods, along with the 2003 squad when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger led the RedHawks.
Donzer says that he's going to walk away with a lot of memories from the many friendships he's made.
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"I've had associations with other equipment managers all over the country, especially in the Mid-American Conference," he said. "This has been my only job from day one. It's a good time to hang it up, and spend some time with my family, including my 10-month-old grandson, Ethan Edward Waywood. I'm just going to kick back, relax and reflect."
Miami head football coach Shane Montgomery says that Don Miller will be difficult to replace.
"He's a guy who knew the ins and outs of his job as well as anyone," said Montgomery. "We always knew that with Donzer the program would always be taken care of."
--www.MURedHawks.com--
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