By Joy Ulrickson
Collegian Reporter

When four varsity sports were discontinued at Hillsdale, it came as a surprise to everyone, especially baseball coach Paul Noce, who shared an office with Roy Miller, head of the men’s and women’s soccer programs. Noce, who was in Florida in December, did not know the soccer programs, along with the men’s swimming and tennis programs, had been cut until he returned to campus.

“I came back and noticed that something was different,” Noce said.

Miller’s side of the office was no longer occupied. Miller was the only coach to lose his job completely through the cuts. Swim coach MaryAnne Gerzanick and tennis coach Sue Abel will continue coaching the women’s swim and tennis teams.

Miller coached Hillsdale soccer for four of its five years as a varsity sport, and in 2001 was recognized as Coach of the Year in the GLIAC. His women’s team received a NSCAA Team Ethics Gold Award that year as well, one of three given out in collegiate soccer.

Miller was reluctant to talk about the situation.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he said.

He suggested the athletes be interviewed instead. Miller did not return later phone calls.

Some say that after the experience of coaching two teams for four years, Miller should not have problems getting a new position.

“Coach Miller is a good coach,” Noce said. “I’m sure he’ll find another coaching job.”

The loss of these teams changes not only the athletic program at Hillsdale but the composition and nature of the GLIAC as well.

Just as in coaching, the most significant change in the GLIAC comes from loss of the soccer program.

Without Hillsdale, the GLIAC is left with very few soccer teams. The men’s side is now composed of only six teams and the women’s side has nine.

“It’s obviously to the disadvantage of the league, especially for the men, because there’s only a handful of teams,” said Andy Smyth, head coach of men’s and women’s soccer at the University of Findlay. “It messes up the schedules.”

John Hall, head of men’s and women’s soccer at Ashland University, agreed.

“The level of play will weaken in our conference and in the region,” he said. “On the men’s side it may hinder NCAA play-off bids as region games are hard to schedule.”

Both Smyth and Hall said they have been recruiting Hillsdale athletes, but did not say any had made commitments to transfer.

“The advantage for other schools is that there are more college players that want to continue their careers and now want to play for other schools,” Smyth said. “Competition should theoretically be tougher.”

Smyth and Hall hold the same position Miller did, coaching both the men’s and women’s soccer teams. Smyth declined to give his opinion on the situation.

“I really don’t understand the reasons for all of it–I’m sure there’s a rationale for all of it,” he said.

Hall offered his take on the Hillsdale situation.
“Obviously I do not agree with cutting a program,” Hall said, citing other possibilities for budget cuts. “The school did not address the impression from future student-athletes in other sports interested in attending Hillsdale. Will their program be cut next? In today’s economic slump you try to retain the students you have and increase enrollment each year. Cutting an athletic program will do neither.”

Photo Courtesy of External Affairs

Former head soccer coach Roy Miller coached both the men’s and women’s teams for four out of the five years soccer was a varsity sport at Hillsdale.