In 2019, David Miller watched his former high school coach at Goshen, Brad Park, get inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame.
Now, it’s Miller’s turn to be honored in the same regard.
Miller, who has been in numerous roles at Columbus East High School since 2006, was recently named to the Indiana High School Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 as a player. His induction will take place in May 2022.
There was no 2020 class due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was definitely a big surprise,” Miller said. “It’s not something that I was expecting. I had just gone the year before (2019). I went to (Park’s) ceremony, but I was totally surprised and honored. It’s something that not a lot of people can say.”
The process of getting nominated for the Hall of Fame started for Miller when East boys basketball coach Brent Chitty introduced him to Bill Doba, Chitty’s father-in-law who was a former coach at Goshen. After a few conversations, Doba nominated Miller to the group that votes through the Indiana Football Coaches Association.
“We met and we talked a couple times, just casual conversations,” Miller said. “He knew that I played at Goshen. He decided to nominate me.”
Following high school graduation, Miller went on to play football for Ball State University. After playing for the Cardinals, he spent two and a half years in the NFL. He was an offensive lineman for the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and New York Giants from 2003 to 2005.
At the conclusion of his professional career, Miller completed his physical education degree at BSU.
Miller came to East in 2006 as strength and conditioning coach and assistant football coach. He has been the Olympians’ offensive line coach since then, including during their state championship runs in 2013 (Class 4A) and 2017 (5A) and their run to a 5A state runner-up finish in 2016.
Miller also spent two years as boys track and field assistant coach. He took over as boys track and field head coach from 2013 to 2017, leading East to the Hoosier Hills Conference championship in 2016.
Since 2014, Miller has served as dean of students at East. He also is heading into his second year as an assistant athletic director for the Olympians.
He said he splits his time between being a dean for a half-day and helping with the athletic department the other half of the day.
Miller said he is honored to be selected among a small fraternity of players that can call themselves Hall of Famers.
“There’s not a lot of people that can say they’re in the Hall of Fame,” Miller said. “It was a great honor and humbling and definitely, definitely a big surprise.”