Jill Miller Named Northwestern Cross Country Head Coach
7/19/2019 3:00:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern has named Jill Miller as its new head coach of Wildcats cross country, Combe Family Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Jim Phillips announced Friday.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jill Miller to lead Northwestern cross country," said Phillips. "Every head coaching search is of critical importance because they so directly impact the daily student experience. Our program has made enormous strides the last several years and she is the perfect fit to take us to the next level, with a record of success speaks for itself."
Miller joins the Wildcats after serving as the head women's cross country coach at Wisconsin last season. She was an assistant coach of cross country and track and field the four seasons prior to her promotion before the 2018 campaign. The Badgers earned four top-15 finishes at the NCAA Cross Country Championships during her tenure.
"I want to thank Dr. Phillips, President Schapiro and the search committee for their commitment to the cross country program and the trust they've placed in me," said Miller. "Northwestern is an amazing community, I can't wait to contribute and help develop our student-athletes to compete for championships and earn one of the premier degrees in college athletics. I am grateful to have spent the last five years under Mick Byrne's leadership and for the incredible experiences my student-athletes afforded to me."
The Dublin, Ohio, native was instrumental in the development of junior Alicia Monson, the 2018 Big Ten Champion and unanimous Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year, and an NCAA Indoor champion. Miller also coached Sarah Disanza to four All-America honors, including an NCAA runner-up finish at the 2014 NCAA Championships and a seventh-place finish at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Before joining the Badgers, Miller spent two seasons as the head cross country coach at William & Mary where she earned a pair of Colonial Athletic Association Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year honors. She led the Tribe to a 12th-place showing at the 2013 NCAA Cross Country Championships and 13th-place finish in the Terry Crawford Program of the Year standings. William & Mary scored at all three national championships for the first time in program history under Miller's guidance.
Miller's tutelage was pivotal in the development of four-time All-American and 2013 Southeast Region Athlete of the Year Emily Stites at William & Mary. The 2012 CAA Rookie of the Year claimed the USA Junior Cross Country Championship to secure a spot at the 2013 World Cross Country Championships where she was voted captain of Team USA. Miller also coached two-time CAA Athlete of the Year Elaina Balouris to a CAA Meet Championship and six All-America honors.
Prior to her successful stint at the helm of the Tribe, Miller spent three seasons at Brown University, one as head coach. In her time with the Bears, she coached six NCAA Outdoor National Championship qualifiers and 23 all-time top-10 performers.
A graduate of Wake Forest University, Miller was a four-time NCAA Cross Country Championships qualifier and was part of the program's first Atlantic Coast Conference title in 2002.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jill Miller to lead Northwestern cross country," said Phillips. "Every head coaching search is of critical importance because they so directly impact the daily student experience. Our program has made enormous strides the last several years and she is the perfect fit to take us to the next level, with a record of success speaks for itself."
Miller joins the Wildcats after serving as the head women's cross country coach at Wisconsin last season. She was an assistant coach of cross country and track and field the four seasons prior to her promotion before the 2018 campaign. The Badgers earned four top-15 finishes at the NCAA Cross Country Championships during her tenure.
"I want to thank Dr. Phillips, President Schapiro and the search committee for their commitment to the cross country program and the trust they've placed in me," said Miller. "Northwestern is an amazing community, I can't wait to contribute and help develop our student-athletes to compete for championships and earn one of the premier degrees in college athletics. I am grateful to have spent the last five years under Mick Byrne's leadership and for the incredible experiences my student-athletes afforded to me."
The Dublin, Ohio, native was instrumental in the development of junior Alicia Monson, the 2018 Big Ten Champion and unanimous Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year, and an NCAA Indoor champion. Miller also coached Sarah Disanza to four All-America honors, including an NCAA runner-up finish at the 2014 NCAA Championships and a seventh-place finish at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Before joining the Badgers, Miller spent two seasons as the head cross country coach at William & Mary where she earned a pair of Colonial Athletic Association Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year honors. She led the Tribe to a 12th-place showing at the 2013 NCAA Cross Country Championships and 13th-place finish in the Terry Crawford Program of the Year standings. William & Mary scored at all three national championships for the first time in program history under Miller's guidance.
Miller's tutelage was pivotal in the development of four-time All-American and 2013 Southeast Region Athlete of the Year Emily Stites at William & Mary. The 2012 CAA Rookie of the Year claimed the USA Junior Cross Country Championship to secure a spot at the 2013 World Cross Country Championships where she was voted captain of Team USA. Miller also coached two-time CAA Athlete of the Year Elaina Balouris to a CAA Meet Championship and six All-America honors.
Prior to her successful stint at the helm of the Tribe, Miller spent three seasons at Brown University, one as head coach. In her time with the Bears, she coached six NCAA Outdoor National Championship qualifiers and 23 all-time top-10 performers.
A graduate of Wake Forest University, Miller was a four-time NCAA Cross Country Championships qualifier and was part of the program's first Atlantic Coast Conference title in 2002.
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