Speaking September 9th is Marty Miller – Norfolk State Athletics Director.

Marty Miller has been called many things during his tenure at Norfolk State University. Some have called him a rock. Others have referred to him as one of Norfolk State’s greatest ambassadors. Regardless of the label, what’s clear is that Miller has served his alma mater in various capacities for more than 40 years, providing NSU with stability in times of need.

His professional career at Norfolk State has included stints in the areas of financial aid, career services, student affairs and athletics. After winning more than 700 games as the school’s baseball coach, Miller was named NSU’s acting athletics director on December 16, 2004. He was appointed to the permanent athletics director post on March 18, 2005.

The NSU athletics department has also made a number of major facilities improvements in the last decade or more. In the summer of 2018, with the assistance of the University administration, NSU installed a new synthetic turf surface to William “Dick” Price Stadium. The $1.38 million renovation will provide the NSU football team and other campus groups the ability to practice and perform on a modern outdoor surface and will enable the University to attract more outside events to the campus.

With help from alumni, administration, fans, friends and the Department of Facilities Management, the athletics department was able to raise funds to renovate and purchase new equipment for the weight room in 2017. In 2007, the school completed a major renovation of the NSU Softball Field, which included the installation of new team dugouts and a press box. A new state-of-the-art track surface was completed in the summer of 2010. Seat renovations to Joseph Echols Hall were completed prior to the 2013-14 athletics season. A new floor and platform lift were installed in Echols Hall and a new ventilation system and new carpeting were added to the football locker room in Gill Gymnasium during the summer of 2014. Other recent renovations include a complete overhaul of the playing surface, seating and fencing for the NSU Tennis Complex.

Both the football stadium and Joseph Echols Hall have had new Daktronics LED video display boards installed in the last six years, at a combined cost of more than $3.5 million. The Echols project included a state-of-the-art, four-sided high-definition video board display, nine new HD scorer’s tables, four single-sided LED scoreboard displays, and brand new speakers and amplifiers throughout the arena.

Another highlight of his tenure as athletics director includes NSU capturing nine consecutive Talmadge Layman Hill awards from (2005-13). NSU took home the award again in 2017 for the 11th time, tying South Carolina State for the most ever in the MEAC. NSU received a total of $225,000 for winning the awards, given annually to the top men’s sports program in the conference. Miller was also presented in March 2006 with the Tom Fergusson Memorial Award, given annually to the area’s top sportsman by the Norfolk Sports Club.

Miller also presided over one of the more historic years in NSU lore in 2011-12. An NSU-record five Spartan teams won MEAC titles, which included the first-ever championships for the men’s basketball and women’s bowling teams during their Division I tenure. The men’s basketball team made its mark in NCAA Tournament history by scoring an upset of No. 2 seed Missouri in the second round of the NCAA West Region in March of 2012.

Miller is no stranger to winning. His career record as baseball coach was 718-543-3. Miller first started making a name for himself as a player at NSU from 1965-68. He hit .380 as a sophomore; .438 with eight doubles, two triples, three homers and 27 RBI as a junior; and .406 as a senior, when he became the first Spartan player to be named an NCAA College Division All-American. Miller was an All-CIAA baseball selection in 1967 and 1968, and led the nation in doubles in 1968.

Miller graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1969. An ROTC member in college, Miller was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army after he graduated. While on active duty, Miller was signed by the Minnesota Twins. Miller returned to his alma mater in 1972 as an assistant to baseball coach Bob Andrews. The next season, Miller inherited the head-coaching job, which he held until early in 2005.

Miller is the winningest baseball coach in CIAA history, having led the Spartans to a 584-374-3 record in their years in the league. Miller’s ledger in the CIAA includes 17 conference championships, including seven in a row from 1987-93; 12 post-season appearances; 15 CIAA Coach of the Year awards; six All-Americans and 22 players signed to pro contracts. He also won the 1980 NAIA District 19 Coach of the Year award after his team won the District 19 title. Between 1993-97, Miller won five consecutive Louisville Slugger Awards, given to championship coaches. He was one of a select few baseball coaches to receive the award for five consecutive years.

In 1997, NSU honored Miller by building the Marty L. Miller Baseball Field. One year later, Miller led NSU to the MEAC Tournament championship round in the Spartans’ first year in the league. He was named the MEAC Coach of the Year in 2000, and NSU reached the championship round again in 2001.

The year 2003 was also a special one for Miller. In February, Miller was inducted into the CIAA’s John B. McLendon Hall of Fame. In May, Miller earned his 700th career win with the Spartans when sixth-seeded NSU upset No. 2 Delaware State in the MEAC tournament. In August, Miller the player was honored as one of eight inductees into the Norfolk State University Athletics Foundation Sports Hall of Fame.

Miller was also inducted into the Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. He was also chosen to serve in March 2011 on the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame Committee and is also a past member of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Honors Court. Miller was inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Virginia Interscholastic Association Heritage Association (VIAHA) Hall of Fame in 2017.

Considered one of the highlights of his career, Miller was honored at the Virginia State Capitol on Jan. 16, 2014 and received resolutions from the Senate and House of Delegates for his induction into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and career accomplishments.

Miller, a native of Danville, Va., is a current member and past president of the Norfolk Sports Club. He also serves on the executive committee for the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. He and his wife Liz have one son, Marty Eric, a former NSU outfielder; a daughter-in-law, Zoe; and a granddaughter, Madison.