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BENTON HARBOR — Fifty years ago, Liz Miller founded Lake Michigan College’s women’s athletics program and began a 17-year career of fostering an environment where all student-athletes could thrive. On Tuesday, the College officially recognized her legacy with the naming of the Liz Miller Athletics Office Suite on its Benton Harbor campus.

Following the LMC Board of Trustees meeting where its members approved the naming, former athletes and coaches, faculty, staff, and alumni gathered with Miller and her family to celebrate the dedication of the space.

“Few people have had a greater impact on Lake Michigan College and its students than Liz Miller,” stated Doug Schaffer, Vice President, Advancement and Community Impact and Executive Director of the Lake Michigan College Foundation. “She arrived when women’s intercollegiate athletics at LMC was nothing more than an idea. She transformed that concept into a tangible program of excellence on the playing field and in the classroom. As we celebrate 50 years of women’s athletics at LMC, it is our honor to highlight Liz’s leadership and contributions.”

Miller joined LMC in 1974 at a time when equity in women’s sports was just emerging in the country. In addition to her role as full-time physical education instructor, she served as head coach of the women’s volleyball, basketball, and softball programs. Coaching all three simultaneously for three seasons, she quickly established a winning tradition among LMC women’s sports.

After amassing a 34-17 record in basketball, Miller handed off those coaching duties in 1977 to focus on development of the softball and volleyball programs.

One year later, at just 30 years old, Miller rose to a new leadership role as the College’s athletic director. Not only was she the first female athletic director at LMC, but she was also the first female athletic director of both a men’s and women’s intercollegiate program in Michigan.

Her teams continued to flourish. During 15 seasons, Miller guided her volleyball squads to a 472-171 (.734) record with seven Western Collegiate Conference titles, two Region XII championships, and back-to-back appearances at nationals in 1983 and 1984. In 1989, she stepped back from volleyball to focus on added responsibilities as LMC’s Director of Alumni Relations while still serving as athletic director and softball coach.

During 17 years at the helm of the LMC softball program, her teams gained national prominence. She led them to a record of 541-143 (.792) which, at the time, was the second highest total in National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) history. LMC won 12 Western Conference championships and 10 Region XII titles, and Miller was recognized as the Region XII Softball Coach of the Year 10 times from 1980 to 1990.

Her softball teams qualified for nationals 10 of her last 11 seasons, the most of any team in NJCAA history at that time. From 1981 to 1985, LMC finished in the nation’s top five and from 1987 to 1991, the squad was ranked in the top 10.

This level of success did not go unnoticed. In 1991, Miller left LMC to accept the head softball coaching position at the University of Notre Dame.

Her overall 17-year record at LMC was an impressive 1047-331 (.760). She coached 25 softball and volleyball All-Americans. However, her legacy doesn’t stop there. By the time of her departure from LMC, 25 of her former athletes had already become coaches at various levels.

“Liz shaped the future of all sports at Lake Michigan College during her tenure and through her support of the program after she left. She set a high mark for those of us who have followed her,” stated LMC Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Life Melissa Grau. “She always saw the potential in each of her athletes and mentored them to reach for excellence in competition and academics.”

In recognition of her trailblazing achievements, including serving as NJCAA vice president from 1984-1987 and president from 1987-1990, Miller was inducted by her alma mater Western Michigan University into its Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994. She was also inducted into the Lake Michigan College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997, the NJCAA Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999, and the National Fastpitch Coaches Hall of Fame in 2005.

After leaving her official LMC roles, Miller continued to support LMC students. She served on the LMC Foundation Board of Directors, and for more than 10 years, she and her husband, Lloyd, held leadership roles on the annual LMC Winner’s Circle Benefit Auction committee. They also established the Liz & Lloyd Miller Athletic Endowment Fund, and together they were awarded the Bernard C. Radde Distinguished Service Award in 1987 for advancing the cause of Lake Michigan College and higher education.