New Providence Coach Retires After 53 Years

Most coaches dream it while Paul Miller lives it. In a career packed with accomplishments, accolades, and respect, legendary Coach Miller is retiring after 53 years where he prepared for and battled in nearly 1,400 contests for New Providence High School.

New Providence High School Athletic Director Rob Harmer’s introduction of Coach Miller at this year’s was apropos, “a true Pioneer in every aspect.”

“It has been an incredible journey. The New Providence experience is special,” Miller said. “Athletically, the trophy cases are filled and academically our graduates have gone on to excel in every field. Our music department is second to none. This is a very special place."

Coach Miller has been coaching the golf team for the past 11 years where, in 2010, he led the Pioneers to its first Group One championship in 12 years. Miller took over the reins for Vic Bucosi who became inundated with other scholastic endeavors at the school.  Under Miller’s guise, the Pioneers’ golf team racked up three sectional state titles and five conference titles to go along with last year’s Group One title.

This year’s golf team finished as runners up in the Union County Tournament second to only Westfield, who was undefeated. As Miller puts it, “We were the dark horse in the tournament.” New Providence had to win a “play in game” to enter the tournament because of the team’s low seed. They beat Oratory Prep to enter the tournament and went on to finish second, beating much stronger teams.

“That was the highlight for us this year, being the runners up in the Union County Tournament,” said Miller.

Despite his success with golf, it was his 32 years as head baseball coach that landed Miller in the hearts of so many people and earned him great respect around the state. In his honor, the school’s baseball field has been named the “Paul Miller Field.”

Under his tutelage, the baseball team captured six state sectional titles and six conference titles. In 1976, Miller was named “Coach of the Year” by the Star Ledger after his team won the Group II State Championship. That year, the Pioneers were ranked third in the state. Miller’s teams found success in county competition as well when they won the Union County Championship in 1977 and 1983.

Three of Coach Miller’s former baseball players were drafted by Major League Baseball teams. Steve Gelmine was drafted in the 13th round by the Cleveland Indians in 1981, but decided to play baseball for Florida State. After graduating from Florida, Gelmine was drafted by the Houston Astros where he played in the minors for several years.

Barry Blackwell, who also played at Florida State after graduating from New Providence High School, was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 12th round in 1987.

Mike Barba was drafted in the 7th round of the 1979 amateur draft by the San Diego Padres.

Through the years, Coach Miller has found his name in countless local papers where he was bestowed with numerous awards and honors to compliment the Star Ledger’s recognition in 1976.

Paul Miller’s coaching career began in 1958 when the school only had a total of four teams: soccer, baseball, track, and basketball. Coach Miller was the assistant coach for three of those four original teams at New Providence High School.

Miller began his career as a teacher, then held the position of department chairperson for physical education for 10 years. He later became the school’s athletic director for another seven. His illustrious career also includes 21 years as an assistant basketball coach.

Coach Miller has seen many changes over his 53-year career, but none more significant than the rise of girls' sports.

“When I started there were four total teams; now there are forty-something including varsity, sub-varsity and girls,” Miller said. “Back then, they didn’t have competitive girls' sports; that has been the biggest change during my career, equal girls' teams."

For many years, girls didn’t have varsity sports. Girls were limited to participating in the GAA (Girls' Athletic Association). The GAA was more of an afterschool intramural program to give the girls something to do after school and have fun.

Coach Miller believes high school athletics is extremely important to one’s development and education, and impacts a teen’s life in many ways.

“The best teaching happens on an athletic field. Lessons carry over to whatever endeavor they pursue. The most intense teaching happens on the field,” said Miller.

After being so involved in coaching for more than half a century, especially when one has impacted thousands of lives, it is extremely difficult to let go. But Coach Miller feels, “The time is right. I’m getting older, I still have my health and I have two kids living in Colorado that I want to spend more time with.”

Even though he won’t be coaching at the high school anymore, Miller said, “I’ll still be the Pioneers’ number one fan. I’ll be at the games."