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Notebook: Miller's legacy has two sides

By Kevin Gorman, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, April 24, 2005
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When John Miller resigned April 6 after 29 years at Blackhawk, there were grumblings from opposing coaches that his eight WPIAL and four PIAA basketball titles should have asterisks next to them.

It's no secret that transfers such as Brandon Fuss-Cheatham and Ryan Evanochko played a pivotal role in Miller's success. Both played on WPIAL championship teams and signed with Division I schools. But so did Miller's sons, Sean and Archie.

To this, Miller was defensive until the end.

"I have never ever in 29 years asked a kid to come to Blackhawk," he said. "I'd take a lie detector test right now. I can't help it if a guy comes in. When you win and you win big, most people are looking for the negative. They think automatically if you come to me, you're going to be a Division I basketball player. It doesn't work that way."

Miller's rep worked both ways. He was known as a taskmaster who demanded players to be fundamentally sound and defensively tenacious. Although that attracted some stars, it did not appeal to others.

"I honestly believe that John Miller did not influence anybody to come to Blackhawk by personally contacting them," Blackhawk athletic director Jack Fullen said. "The success we had brought people here."

It was hard for opponents to buy Miller's message after the stars that transferred to Blackhawk spent their summers playing for him on the Pittsburgh JOTS. The AAU travel club has helped Western Pennsylvania's recent resurgence.

"I felt the way to go is, you have to play all the time. The easiest way to do that is AAU," Miller said. "If you don't do that, your chances are slim to none. When I first started with J.O. Stright, we were first looked upon as if we were bandits. Now, everybody wants to be on the JOTS. I think it had a great deal to do with keeping basketball rolling."

Following Miller

Finding a replacement to follow Miller won't be an easy task for Blackhawk, especially after he compiled a 583-222 record.

The school district already has targeted a willing candidate with a reputation as an up-and-coming coach in Ben O'Connor, who is even more attractive now that he has a master's degree and his guidance counselor certificate.

"I think it's going to scare a lot of people away," O'Connor said. "I think it's an awesome challenge. People keep saying, 'You're nuts to want to follow him.' I look at it as if you're taking over an established program that is fundamentally sound."

O'Connor is on a similar path to stardom. He spent four years as head coach at Keystone Oaks, where he took over a program that went 0-22 and led it to the playoffs the next season. (Blackhawk went 1-21 in Miller's first season).

O'Connor, 28, had a 64-41 record at Keystone Oaks, his alma mater, before accepting a position as an assistant coach at Westminster College. He has interviewed for the opening at Peters Township and will meet with Fox Chapel this week.

Recruiting updates

Woodland Hills cornerback Darrin Walls is the WPIAL's hottest prospect, with more than 20 scholarship offers. His current top five includes Pitt, Penn State, Florida, Michigan and Notre Dame, where he was planning to make an unofficial visit this weekend.

  • Woodland Hills receiver Wes Lyons, up to 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, has a dozen offers. His early leaders are Ohio State, where his brother Devon plays receiver, and Miami (Fla.), where family friend Andrew Johnson plays tailback.

  • West Allegheny's Dorin Dickerson, a 6-foot-2, 205-pounder, who plays running back, receiver and outside linebacker is being recruited as an athlete. He has 11 offers and favors Pitt, Michigan and Florida.


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