Longtime swim coach Mike Miller passed away last weekend after many years coaching at the club and college levels.
Miller was most recently an assistant coach at Lewis & Clark College, joining that program in 2007 and coaching and teaching through last year.
Miller also had a long stint at the club level with the Glacier Swim Club in Juneau, Alaska.
Before that, he was a swimmer, earning NAIA All-America status at Central Washington University, where he was a school record-holder.
The Portland Aquatic Club posted a tribute to Miller on its Facebook page, republished below:
We mourn the passing of swimming coach Michael “Mike” Miller on November 14, 2015. He brought a love of the sport to his coaching and, more importantly, a passion for helping people. He cared deeply about serving students and about supporting them as they grew into the best adults possible. Hundreds of swimmers across generations count Coach Miller as a central and essential figure in their life and growth.
Most recently, Michael coached and taught at Lewis & Clark College for seven years, first joining the Pioneers in 2007.
His generosity extended just as readily to the swimming courses he taught in the Physical Education department and to the relationships he formed with staff, faculty, and students all across the undergraduate campus.
During a career spanning four decades, Michael coached in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska before he joined the collegiate ranks at Lewis & Clark where he remained until retiring from coaching last year.
In his longest coaching role, Michael was the head coach of Glacier Swim Club in Juneau, Alaska. During his tenure with GSC the team grew from 62 to 150 swimmers ranging from novice to national level swimmers. Over fifty of his swimmers went on to compete in college at the NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA levels. Michael has been honored as a Lifetime Member of USA Swimming.
Michael added to every environment he was in and engaged people wherever he went. Going above and beyond was just another day at the pool for him. His humanity was present in his interactions and he brought out the best from those he worked with.
As a three-time cancer survivor, his abundant energy and positivity spilled into all facets of his life from coaching to family to his continued work supporting those currently battling cancer.
Michael embodied many great qualities, chief among them a warm greeting and the desire to connect with others. The deep care and commitment he showed to all he encountered will live on in the countless lives he enriched. He will be missed.
Michael is survived by his wife, Judy and their three grown children. A funeral service will be held Saturday November 21st at 11am at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Beaverton.
Mike Miller was a fantastic coach and an even greater person. He will be missed by all of us whose lives he touched.
Mike was a great guy–never failed to say hello and genuinely cared about how my kids were swimming. Indelibly kind.
He will be missed-love and prayers to his family and swimmers in this time of sorrow.