Jim Miller is entering his 20th season as coach of the Carbondale Terriers and 29th overall with stops at Wilmington and Fairfield High School.
The Charleston native has more than 480 wins and nine 20-win seasons, prior to this year.
Miller was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2015. He led the Terriers to a second-place finish in the IHSA Class 2A state championship in the 2004-05 season and was fourth the year prior in 2003-04. Miller had a career-best 31-3 outing in the 2004-05 season. He recently got his 500th career win Jan. 19.
Question: Did coaching basketball choose you or did you choose to coach basketball?
Jim Miller: I think it's really a two-way street. I started organized basketball when I was in fourth grade. I had great parents who were supportive of my family playing athletics. It just evolved. It all starts with loving the sport and at an early age, my twin brother and I fell in love with playing sports and basketball fell in line. It was one of the things I went to college to do and I was fortunate enough to get college scholarships at Lakeland Community College to play two years and at that point in time I was not real sure what I wanted to do after those two years. My body kind of gave out - the knees, the back, everything. I know I couldn't play at the next level but still wanted to keep my hands involved in the game itself. At that point in time, I decided that was something I was really intrigued to do or pursue.
Q: How has basketball changed during your time coaching?
JM: The game itself hasn't changed a whole lot with the exception of the three-point line. It has brought a different dynamic to the game. In general, the kids are the same. Parenting has changed, and it is difficult at times. We are fortunate to have great parents who have been very supportive. Society has become too permissive. Kids are not held accountable as much as they were in the past for their own actions. That's the thing we try to teach, my staff and I, that you are accountable for what you do and what you don't do. That's part of the growing process.
Q: What do you think is the reason you have stayed at Carbondale as long as you have?
JM: Success. And it's not my success. I've been blessed with a great coaching staff over the years that has had the kids' best interest at heart, very knowledgeable about the game, and work ethic second to none. The most important aspect to a successful basketball team or any organization is having good people. We have kids that work hard, do what they are asked to do for the most part, and we've had success over the years by stressing those values. It's been a pleasure and privilege to coach here at Carbondale High School for this long and it all starts with those kids and the athletes that you have.
Q: Did you ever consider leaving?
JM: A few times. Not because of adversity but because of other opportunities that have presented themselves. The adversities that you run across are motivators more than anything and you don't want that to be the reason that you fail so it causes you to work harder and put in more time if that's possible. We've had opportunities to do other things but when it comes down to it, Carbondale is where I wanted my kids to be raised. Carbondale is a community that has everything we look for.
Q: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever gotten?
JM: You know what, every kid has a story. You want to treat every kid fairly, but they're not always treated equal because of a story that they have. Before you make any harsh criticism or disciplines, you have to also consider what makes them the person they are.
Q: Who is your coaching idol?
JM: My high school coach really established a good coaching base. He worked hard, he loved his kids, his kids (myself and the kids he coached) played hard for him, and he was very challenging, but he was very fair. Steve Hutton at Charleston. He went on to be a coach at East Peoria and was an athletic director. Every year we get together.
Q: What is your best memory as a head coach?
JM: I love seeing my kids play at the next level. When we got fourth one year and then the following year with one starter returning, we got second. That was a special year. That was a year that makes my dreams as a high school player come true. Those kids allowed us to do that. I remember growing up always on the concrete and always playing games, by yourself usually. But always thinking about playing in the state tournament. That year those kids made those dreams come true.