WILMINGTON—Veteran coach and administrator Joe Miller died suddenly at his home on Tuesday.

     Miller, age 70,  was a member of the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame and served on the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors from 2003 to 2007.

     A visitation will be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday at Andrews Mortuary Valley Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday  at St. Mark Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Oleander Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Joe Miller's name to North Carolina High School Athletic Association at NCHSAA, PO Box 3216, Chapel Hill, NC 27515 in care of Karen Dehart, or the Miracle League of Wilmington, 341 South College Rd., Suite 11, PMB 2019, Wilmington, NC 28403 or Wilmington Junior Golf Academy, 217-C Sunnaire Ct, Wilmington NC 28405.

     His 40-year career in education included stints in Georgia, Florida and Missouri Southern University, but he really made his mark in New Hanover County.  He was the long-time football coach and athletic director at New Hanover High, posting a career record of 186-56-1 in 21 years as a head coach, but he also led New Hanover to a pair of softball championships, the first two years the NCHSAA offered the championship.

     Miller also was head coach of the North Carolina Shrine Bowl team in 1994 after serving as assistant in 1987.

     He eventually became the athletic director for the New Hanover school system, where he served 15 years before his retirement in 2009.

     Miller was very active in the North Carolina Athletic Directors Association, serving as president in 2005-06, and received several honors from both the NCADA and the NCHSAA, including NCHSAA Dave Harris Athletic Director of the year in 2003.  He also became a passionate advocate for the NCHSAA Endowment program.

     Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time but will be posted.