Phillip Miller admitted the ride home from the 2A West Regional wrestling tournament proved a bit emotional – and not because of anything that happened on the mat.
After 12 years of coaching various sports at Polk County High School and Polk County Middle School, Miller is stepping away from the sidelines, the regional tournament at West Lincoln High School serving as his final event.
“Coming home on the drive from the regional Saturday, I did get sad that it’s all over,” Miller said. “Every good thing comes to and end. You’ve just got to move on.”
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Miller is moving on after contributing to a number of programs across the district during the past 12 seasons. He served as head wrestling, baseball and softball coach and as an assistant football coach at Polk County Middle School. Miller spent the past five seasons as Polk County High School’s head wrestling coach and also served as an assistant in the football and softball programs during that time.
Employed full-time with the Town of Tryon, a shift in Miller’s work schedule led to his decision to leave the Wolverine coaching staff.
“My job has changed, and I’m just no longer going to be able to get time off like I could in the past,” Miller said. “Twelve years is a long time. I’ve done my part to help.”
Miller credited PCMS principal Hank Utz and former Polk County High athletic director Jeff Wilson with playing a key role in his coaching career, with his time as the head middle school wrestling coach also providing one of his fondest memories.
“Who would have ever thought that I would coach a state champion and two state runners-up in that time, or that two of those guys from that time would then help me coach this season,” Miller said of Polk County assistant wrestling coaches Tyler Philpott (also the former state champion) and Caleb Russell.
“I’ve enjoyed helping the kids. I’m going to miss that.”
