Furman University

Josh Miller is in his third season as the Paladins’ defensive line coach.

In his first year at Furman he directed a young defensive front, headed up by All-SoCon nose guard Jaylan Reid, that paced the SoCon with 34 sacks.  The improved play of Miller’s group played a key role in the Paladins’ 8-5 campaign that netted a FCS playoff berth.

This past season Furman’s defensive line delivered more strong play under Miller’s tutelage, netting a second All-SoCon scroll for Reid and a share of Furman’s 14th league championship following five victories in the Paladins’ final six games.

Miller came to Furman following four seasons at Charleston Southern, where he served as special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach.

While at CSU, Miller oversaw impressive special teams play and played a key role in some of the top defensive units in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).  From 2013-16 the Buccaneers posted a 35-14 record, won two conference championships, and earned a pair of invitations to the NCAA FCS Playoffs.

In 2016 one of Miller’s pupils, Darius Hammond, earned All-Big South Conference honors for a third consecutive season and  took home special teams player of the year honors. In addition, long snapper Joseph Smith collected all-conference honors for a second consecutive year to go along with second team STATS All-America honors.

Among Miller’s group of outside linebackers, Solomon Brown garnered first team all-conference laurels after registering 70 tackles, 14.5 tackles for-loss, and 4.5 sacks, helping the Bucs rank seventh nationally in total defense (294.1 ypg) while also contributing significantly to CSU’s third place ranking in passing defense.

The 2016 Buccaneer stop troops headlined a pair of late season victories over ranked Big South foes Liberty and Kennesaw State to secure a league championship and FCS playoff berth. 

CSU finished the 2016 season ranked 14th in the final FCS poll, extending its streak of Top 25 rankings to a school record 22 weeks.

Miller’s impressive work with the Bucs’ special teams and defense helped CSU post a 4-0 record against cross-town rival The Citadel from 2013-15, highlighted by a pair of victories over the Bulldogs in 2015, including a 14-6 triumph in second round playoff action.

The turnaround that paved the way for Charleston Southern’s impressive four-year run began in 2013, when Miller helped the Bucs win their first seven games, highlighted by a 27-24 triumph over FBS transition Appalachian State, en route to a 10-3 worksheet and No. 22 final national ranking.

Miller joined the Charleston Southern staff following one season at Delta State University.  Prior to Delta State, he spent the 2007-11 seasons as an assistant coach at Brevard College, where he served as defensive line, strength and conditioning, and special teams coach.

He got his start in coaching at his alma mater, Appalachian State, as a student assistant coach in 2007 and later at West Alamance (N.C.) High School.

A Burlington, N.C., native, he was a member of Appalachian State’s football program from 2006, seeing action on the offensive and defensive lines, and also serving as a long snapper. A four-time SoCon Academic Honor Roll recipient, he received the SoCon Commissioner’s Medal his junior and senior years.

Miller married Lindsey Hubert, a Pittsburgh, Pa., native and assistant administrator at nearby Travelers Rest High School, earlier this year.