New UL linebackers coach has been everywhere

By Darrell Laurant  |   Tuesday, February 26, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Louisville Cardinals
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!

That was quick.

After Louisville's recently hired linebackers coach, Ted Roof, left to become Minnesota's defensive coordinator, Cardinals head coach Steve Kragthroep called a quick audible and came up with a replacement. In fact, Bill Miller's credentials seem, on paper, even better than those of the man he replaces.

Miller spent 2007 as defensive coordinator at Western Michigan, where his defense was first in the Mid-American Conference in pass efficiency, second in sacks and fourth in total yardage, pass 'D' and tackles for loss.

Louisville was in the bottom three among Big East teams in most of those categories.

Prior to taking the Western Michigan job, Miller was defensive coordinator at Michigan State and Miami, associate head coach at Florida, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Oklahoma State and an assistant at Minnesota, Nevada and Drake.

It kind of makes you wonder why Minnesota didn't hire Miller instead of Roof. After all, the Hutchinson, Kan., native has coached in the Big East, Big Ten, Pac 10, SEC, Big 12 and Big Sky (somehow, he missed the ACC).

"It's been a rough day," Miller told the Kalamazoo newspaper on Monday. "You'd think after 32 years of doing this you'd get used to some of the things. It's really tough. I guess you're never sure if it's the right thing to do."

Miller took the job at WMU because he had family in Michigan. He would have returned to coach all 11 defensive starters, but said Louisville made him a financial offer that "at my age (51) I couldn't turn down. I wouldn't have done it for just a few dollars."

The linebacking corps was one of the reasons for Louisville's defensive collapse last season, and its top tackler and pass defender, Lamar Myles, left for the NFL.
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

About Darrell Laurant

Sorry, Darrell Laurant's bio is currently not available. Please check back soon!
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report