Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Rey Del Rio/Northwestern Athletics
Miller Named USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women’s Coach Of The Year
11/25/2025 2:00:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Seventh-year head coach guided Wildcats to historic 2025 season
EVANSTON, Ill. (November 25, 2025) – Fresh off leading the Wildcats to a historic 2025 season, Northwestern University head cross country coach Jill Miller has been named the Midwest Region Coach of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the organization announced on Tuesday.
Miller's seventh season leading the 'Cats proved to be an unforgettable campaign. Northwestern was a fixture in the USTFCCCA National Coaches' Poll, climbing to a program-best No. 8 spot in the national rankings.
The Wildcats opened the regular season with dominant wins at both the Cowboy Preview and Big Ten Preview, ahead of a runner-up finish at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational, where they defeated six ranked foes. Miller's crew parlayed that momentum into a fifth-place showing at the Nuttycombe Invitational, the program's top finish at the prestigious meet.
Northwestern opened the postseason with the program's best finish at the Big Ten Championships since 1986, taking third overall at the league meet behind a trio of All-Big Ten honorees in Ava Criniti, Ava Earl, and Maddy Whitman.
Miller's team raised the bar to another level at the NCAA Midwest Regional, earning a runner-up finish to secure the program's fourth berth to the NCAA Cross Country Championships. The Wildcats' top five runners all finished inside the top 20, with Earl, Whitman, Skye Ellis, Jackie Holman, and Holly Smith collecting USTFCCCA All-Region accolades.
Making its first appearance on collegiate cross country's grandest stage since 2022, Northwestern placed 18th overall, a showing that marked the program's top finish at the national meet since the championship field's expansion in 1998.
During her time in Evanston, Miller has guided the 'Cats to a pair of NCAA Championships berths as a team. The Dublin, Ohio native has mentored seven All-Big Ten selections and 17 USTFCCCA All-Midwest Region picks.
With its cross country slate now complete, Miller and the Wildcats will begin their indoor track campaign in December.
Miller's seventh season leading the 'Cats proved to be an unforgettable campaign. Northwestern was a fixture in the USTFCCCA National Coaches' Poll, climbing to a program-best No. 8 spot in the national rankings.
The Wildcats opened the regular season with dominant wins at both the Cowboy Preview and Big Ten Preview, ahead of a runner-up finish at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational, where they defeated six ranked foes. Miller's crew parlayed that momentum into a fifth-place showing at the Nuttycombe Invitational, the program's top finish at the prestigious meet.
Northwestern opened the postseason with the program's best finish at the Big Ten Championships since 1986, taking third overall at the league meet behind a trio of All-Big Ten honorees in Ava Criniti, Ava Earl, and Maddy Whitman.
Miller's team raised the bar to another level at the NCAA Midwest Regional, earning a runner-up finish to secure the program's fourth berth to the NCAA Cross Country Championships. The Wildcats' top five runners all finished inside the top 20, with Earl, Whitman, Skye Ellis, Jackie Holman, and Holly Smith collecting USTFCCCA All-Region accolades.
Making its first appearance on collegiate cross country's grandest stage since 2022, Northwestern placed 18th overall, a showing that marked the program's top finish at the national meet since the championship field's expansion in 1998.
During her time in Evanston, Miller has guided the 'Cats to a pair of NCAA Championships berths as a team. The Dublin, Ohio native has mentored seven All-Big Ten selections and 17 USTFCCCA All-Midwest Region picks.
With its cross country slate now complete, Miller and the Wildcats will begin their indoor track campaign in December.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
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