Ron Miller - Fencing Coach - University of North Carolina Athletics

Ron Miller

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
rmiller2@email.unc.edu
Phone:
919-962-5221

Coach Ron Miller came to Carolina in 1967 as a physical education instructor, and 51 years later remains at the helm of the North Carolina fencing program. The Kentucky native, who grew up in Florida, brought knowledge of a sport virtually unknown on the UNC campus. Not only did Miller impart that knowledge to countless students in physical education classes, he established and maintained the South's dominant fencing program.

Miller's encouragement and charismatic coaching style were enough to lure athletes to the fledgling program. The requisite hard work and dedicated effort that Miller demanded, however, gave rise to a unique skill in athletes drawn to the speed and discipline of fencing.

More than fencing lessons have been learned from the 74-year-old Miller through the years at Carolina. His teams’ 51-year record, 1553-868, proves that many acquired the skills that helped them learn about winning. Fourteen of Miller's students achieved All-American status, often more than once. Five Carolina fencers were U.S. National Fencing Team members, while two were Olympians. Yet Miller, the Collegiate Coach of the Year in 1983 and 1986, has never been one to track his teams’ records. Members of past and present Carolina fencing teams say they have learned through Miller about what it takes to be a winner in life, not just about attacking and ripostes. In 2016, Miller received the USFCA's Award of Merit for achievements and contributions to the sport of fencing.

He was named the ACC Women's Fencing Coach of the Year in 2015 and won both the men's and women's awards in 2018. UNC hosted the championships in both of those years.

Fencing is a sport that is inherently individual, but Miller's teams are close-knit crews. Drills and practice matches are expressly team-oriented. Carolina's fencers are schooled in a manner that encourages support among teammates who square off against each other during training. Special friendships invariably develop throughout Miller's squads during weeks of practice and hours of travel to distant matches.

Now in his 52nd season as Carolina's fencing coach, Miller has been recognized as a Priceless Gem for his service to UNC and North Carolina. He was awarded an honorary Rammy Award at the annual Department of Athletics recognition ceremony in the spring of 2017.

He announced his retirement following the 2017-18 season but returned to the program's helm during the search for a successor.

Miller served as a coach for the 1981 U.S. Junior World Team, the 1983 Senior World Championship Team and the 1987 Junior Pan American Team. From 1985-95, he served as the director of the USFA's National Coaches College and from 1983-91, he
was the director of the USFA's National Junior Elite Summer Programs. He is a three-time member of the NCAA's Fencing Committee and is a three-time NCAA Regional Committee Chair. Miller has been a USFA National Coaching Staff member since 1977.

Miller received his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Psychology from Florida State University in 1966. He received his Master's in Exercise Science from Eastern Kentucky University in 1967. Miller earned his Doctorate in Exercise Science, Higher Education, Guidance and Psychology from Carolina in
1974. Coach Miller was also awarded a "Maitre d' Armes," in 1975.

“The main significance of the success of UNC Fencing is a culmination of, shall we say, the hard work of all our athletes from 1967 to the present,” Miller said. “So it is an end result of their combined efforts. I have been associated with it all and I have seen it all since the beginning, but it is not my record it is their record, the student-athletes."

Coach Miller lives on 7.77 acres in Haw River, NC with artist wife Susun. He has three grown children; Caroline, Joe and Kurt. Susun has two grown children; Myah and Grey. The Millers have six grandchildren.