Huron hiring Toby Miller as boys basketball coach

The Huron school board is expected to approve Toby Miller as the Tigers' next boys basketball coach at its meeting Monday night. Miller, a 2015 Margaretta graduate, currently is a graduate assistant coach at Heidelberg University in Tiffin. "We're very excited to bring Toby on board," Huron athletic director Steve Camella said. "Our kids are coachable and we're looking forward to Toby bringing out the best in our student-athletes." Miller accepted the job last week. The one-year supplemental contract will pay him $7,801. Miller is just 26, but he's been coaching for years at the college, high school, middle school and AAU levels. He's been an integral part of the well-respected Ohio Buckets AAU program for several years. "His kids love playing for him; he'll do a great job," said Jake Meisler, the Buckets founder. "Everyone who played for him had positive things to say, and as a coach anywhere, that's hard to accomplish." Miller, who said he can't comment on the Huron job until the board approves the position, is finishing a two-year stint at Heidelberg. He'll work for the Student Princes through May as the NCAA Division III program wraps up recruiting. Camella said Miller impressed Huron's five-person search committee with his basketball knowledge and willingness to work with other coaches. Camella said three candidates were granted in-person interviews. "We're facility deficient (one gym at the high school) so coaches need to work with other coaches," Camella said. "He convinced us he will do that." Miller will replace Bobby James, who last month stepped down as Huron's coach. James had a 214-102 record in 14 seasons leading the Tigers. "We've had a good run and tradition in basketball," Camella said. "We haven't had a lot of turnover." Miller graduated from Ohio State University in 2021 with a degree in middle childhood education and will earn a master's degree in business administration from Heidelberg next month. Miller's father is Joe Miller, who is transitioning from principal to athletic director at Danbury High School. Joe Miller is a former Danbury boys basketball coach (2002 to 2010) and is the current Lakers girls coach. Toby Miller got his coaching start as a middle school coach at Margaretta, where he was a point guard for the Polar Bears. Margaretta coach Steve Keller Jr. recruited Miller to coach at the junior high level after Miller graduated from high school and was attending BGSU Firelands. "You knew right away Toby was going to do a great job. He was a coach on the floor when he played," Keller said. "He has a very high IQ, his understanding of personnel is very good as well. He's just a guy players want to play for. He's positive but wants his guys to play hard. He'll be a very positive role model." Miller's high school coaching experience also includes two years on the boys staff at The Wellington School in Upper Arlington while he attended Ohio State. "For a guy who doesn't have head coaching experience there's nobody more qualified than Toby," said Meisler, who also is an assistant coach at Margaretta. "He'll put in a lot of time with the youth program and he'll be involved in the community. It's a desirable job in our area and he'll be great." Meisler said he has strived to build relationships while heading up the Buckets teams, and Miller has been his "right-hand man." "Toby's a big relationship guy and connects with kids," Meisler said. "When you got guys you can build relationships with they'll flat-out play harder for you."