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Seminole State College

Courtney Retirement

Softball

Coach Courtney Miller Announces Retirement

SANFORD, Florida – Following a historic, three-decade career as head coach of the Seminole State College of Florida Fastpitch Softball Program, Courtney Miller has announced her retirement. In honor of her remarkable achievements, she will be inducted into the Florida College System Activities Association Softball Hall of Fame in May. An on-field retirement recognition for Coach Miller is planned for April 27th, immediately following her last home game vs. Hillsborough Community College. 
 
A native of Jasper, Missouri, Miller attended and played softball at Crowder Community College and Missouri State University (formerly known as Southwest Missouri State). She began her coaching career as a softball graduate assistant at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota. In 1991, Miller was named head coach and guided the team to the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament and a top 10 final NCAA DII ranking. 
 
In May 1994, Miller moved to Seminole County where she established the Seminole State College of Florida (SSC, Raiders) fastpitch softball program as its first head coach. Miller spent the next 30 seasons building the Raiders into one of Florida's premier softball programs. 
 
She led the Raiders to a FCSAA State title in 2012, advancing to the NJCAA national tournament where the team placed eighth in the nation. That year, she was also named the FCSAA Coach of the year. 
 
In 2017, the program set a new school record with 53 wins and captured the Mid-Florida Conference title. Miller was also named the MFC Coach of the Year. 
 
Under Miller's leadership, the Raiders achieved many notable milestones including 19 FCSAA State Tournament appearances. Her athletes also earned individual honors including:  
  • 14 NJCAA All-Americans
  • 23 (NFCA) National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Americans
  • 53 FCSAA All-State
  • 120 Mid Florida All-Conference
  • 53 NFCA All-South Region 
  • 41 FCSAA All-Tournament players 
She has coached four Mid-Florida Conference Female Athletes of the Year and one Overall Female FCSAA Player of the Year. Her athletes have also claimed eight FCSAA Softball Player of the Year awards and 11 Mid-Florida Softball Player/Pitcher of the Year honors.

Most importantly, her scholar-athletes have shined in the classroom: 
  • 321 players have been named Academic All-Conference
  • 212 FCSAA Academic All-State
  • 74 NJCAA Academic All-American 
  • 132 NFCA Academic All-Americans  
Miller also coached four Jean Williams award winners, an honor that recognizes state softball players who not only excel on the field but also in the classroom and in service to their community. Two Raiders have been named Mid-Florida Scholar Athlete of the Year, one FCSAA Scholar Athlete of the Year and her 2012 team was named the Mid-Florida Conference and FCSAA Academic Team of the Year. 

Miller served as the Mid Florida Conference Softball Chair for 22 years, and also served as the NJCAA All-American representative for three terms. In 2023, she was inducted into the Seminole County Sports Hall of Fame.  
 
Miller ends her career as the third winningest coach in the NJCAA and first in NJCAA Division One with 1162 current wins. In 2023, she reached a coaching milestone when she earned her 1200th career college win on April 26 in a 11-1 victory over Daytona State College. Her current career coaching record stands at 1230-697 for a .638 winning percentage. 
 
Following her retirement from coaching, Miller will continue her role as professor and athletic adviser at Seminole State College. 
 
Reflections from Coach Courtney Miller 

"My 30 years leading the softball team at Seminole State College have been the greatest joy of my life," Miller says. "I was fortunate President Dr. Weldon and Athletic Director Larry Castle took a chance on a young coach and believed in the vision I had for the program and its future.  

Many great players have put on a Raider uniform and I have been grateful for their hard work and commitment to our culture. None of this would have happened without all of those student-athletes who chose to attend Seminole State and be a part of our program. I consider myself so lucky to have been able to do what I love everyday. All of the young women I coached made this the greatest job in the world.
  
I am thankful for all the people who have supported me and this program over the years. I have worked under great administrators and athletic directors who allowed this program to thrive and be what it is today. Raider Nation will only get better and I can't wait to watch!" 
 
Reflections from Miller's Colleagues 
 
"Coach Courtney is lovingly called 'the GOAT' by her softball coaching peers. She is the 'greatest of all time' for her commitment to the game of softball, to the college and most importantly to our student-athletes. She cares deeply about all of our student-athletes and ensures that they are prepared for their next steps in life."
  • Seminole State Director of Athletics, Kurt Esser
"Hall of Fame baseball players get statues outside of ballparks to remind everyone of their legacy. Courtney's legacy will walk this earth for many decades within the lessons she taught her players, that they will teach to their kids and their kids to their kids. She has impacted this world more than she will ever know."
  • Lake-Sumter State College Head Softball Coach, Jay Miller

"I have had both the honor and privilege to not only play for Courtney Miller, but coach alongside her. There are not enough words to describe what an amazing woman, coach, mentor, laundry-cleaner, score keeper, and teacher that she is. Playing under her was such an amazing experience that I would choose to do again any given day. She's a coach that demands greatness out of you, while having fun. I learned life lessons that have shaped me into the person and coach I am today."


"Courtney coaches her players to be winners on the field, in the classroom and in life! She always figures out a way to have a winning season. She has taught me a lot and helped my players too. She is so funny and honest and doesn't compromise her values for anyone! I will miss her and I love her." 

  • Seminole State Women's Golf Coach Christa Teno 


"Courtney was the first person I met when I visited Seminole. She made a strong impression on me that day, and over the last 24 years as her colleague, I have marveled at her work ethic and dedication to her players and team. Her teams consistently have performed at the highest levels on the field and in the classroom. Congratulations on an illustrious coaching career. You have made it fun in the office and made a lasting impact on the College, the Softball program, and countless young women's lives."

  • Seminole State Baseball Coach Mike Nicholson


RAIDER NOTES:

About the Seminole State Raiders:

The Raider Athletics Department of Seminole State College lives by the Mission of "preparing Raiders for their Next Steps in Life." "Next steps" can include moving on with an athletic scholarship to a four-year university, an AA or AS degree or preparing to finish a bachelors' degree at Seminole State.

The Raiders were established in 1965 and initially led by Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach Joe Sterling. Seminole State sponsors five sports all competing in the NJCAA Division I.  Both Baseball and Softball facilities are located on College Drive on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus.

For more about Raider Athletics, visit SeminoleStateRaiders.com, follow us on Twitter: @buildingRaiders and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/buildingRaiders/.  Fans can follow the Raider Softball team on facebook (https://www.facebook.com/seminolestatesoftball).

Media contact: Kurt Esser, Director of Athletics, 407.708.2092, esserk@seminolestate.edu

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