Hempstead, N.Y. – Hofstra University Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr. has announced the hiring of National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Famer Jay Miller as the head coach of the storied Hofstra Softball program.
Miller comes to Hofstra with over three decades of collegiate coaching experience and a career head coaching record of 1004-668, leading his teams to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, two Women's College World Series berths and three conference championships.
"We are thrilled to welcome Jay Miller as the head coach of the Hofstra Softball program," commented Cole. "Jay comes to Hofstra with tremendous experience and proven success at the highest level, which will be well-suited to the long-standing tradition of winning that has become synonymous with Hofstra Softball. The entire Hofstra community is excited about Jay's arrival on campus and we know how valuable his expertise in the sport of softball will be for our student-athletes moving forward."
Miller said: "I am very excited and honored to be selected to lead the Hofstra Softball program. I would like to thank the search committee for their faith and confidence in giving me this opportunity. A special thanks also goes out to Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz and Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr., whose vision for the program made this position so attractive to me. I look to continue to build upon the great Hofstra Softball tradition that was built by Hall of Fame coach Bill Edwards and continued by Larissa Anderson. Along with Associate Head Coach Julie Meyer, we hope to continue the great history of Hofstra Softball being the top program in the northeast and one of the nation's finest."
Edwards added his excitement for the program: "Wow! Congratulations Hofstra on hiring one of softball's greatest teachers, ambassadors and clinicians. Jay is truly a Hall of Fame coach in every sense. Go Pride!"
Meyer, who has been an assistant on the Hofstra Softball staff for four seasons, has been promoted to associate head coach. Meyer has helped lead the Pride to a pair of Colonial Athletic Association titles and NCAA Regionals appearances and is a two-time member of the NFCA Northeast Regional Coaching Staff of the Year. She was a four-year member of the softball team at California, playing first base and catcher, and also served as an assistant coach at Memphis and Mississippi.
After spending three seasons as a pitching coach at Missouri and four as the head coach of NAIA Oklahoma City, Miller returned to Missouri to take his first Division I head coaching job. He led the Tigers from 1987-2002, compiling a 556-309 record and leading the team to three conference titles, five NCAA Regionals appearances and a pair of Women's College World Series berths. For his successes, he earned back-to-back Big Eight Coach of the Year honors in 1990 and 1991 before being named Midwest Regional Coach of the Year in 1994 and Big XII Coach of the Year in 1997.
Miller then spent 2002-2011 at the helm at Mississippi State, posting a 295-253 record and leading the Bulldogs to six NCAA Regionals, highlighted by a regional finals appearance at Texas in 2005. Miller recorded his 1000th career win at Mississippi State, becoming just the 13th Division I head coach to accomplish the feat, and was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame in 2008.
At the international level, Miller has served on the USA Softball National Team staff since 1997 and was tabbed head coach from 2009-10, earning USOC National Softball Coach of the Year honors in both seasons. He led the team to a World Championship gold medal in 2010, World Cup of Softball gold medals in 2009 and 2010, and gold medals in the Japan and Canada Cups. The national side posted a 44-5 record under his guidance. He also helmed the USA Softball Junior National Team from 2006-07, going a perfect 20-0 and taking home a World Championship in 2007.
Since his time at Mississippi State, Miller spent five years on the staff at Louisville, first as a volunteer assistant before being named a pitching coach in 2014. The Cardinals advanced to four NCAA Regionals in his time there and took home the ACC championship in 2014. Most recently, he has served as the associate head coach at Rutgers since 2016.
A leading authority on the sport, Miller was a charter member of the NFCA and has spent time on the NCAA Softball Rules Committee, the NFCA All-American Committee, the USA Softball Olympic Selection Committee, the NFCA Board and the NFCA Softball Rules Committee, serving as chair on several. Miller has also authored more than 40 articles included in professional publications.
Miller completed an international studies program at the University of Grenoble in France before earning a bachelor's of science in psychology and sociology from Illinois State in 1978 and a master's of science in education from Purdue in 1979.
Miller and his wife Lacey Lee Baker have one daughter, Nicole.
