St. Paul honors Miller's HOF induction

The calendar finally relented. The Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association announced on April 5, 2024, that Nancy Miller was to be inducted into the association's Hall of Fame. That recognition did not come until after the 2024 season, however, at the state All-Star match in Wooster in November. Prior to Monday's home match against Mohawk, St. Paul was able to officially recognize Miller, who coached the school to incredible success over 31 seasons before her retirement following the 2023 season. Miller was presented her plaque by current Norwalk volleyball head coach Sarah Kipp inside Harvey Keller Gymnasium. Kipp played against Miller's teams while she was a student at New London, which also came during the same time period when current St. Paul head coach Angie Kalizewski played for the Lady Flyers. Kipp was then on Kalizewski's coaching staff at Norwalk before taking over in 2017. She also coaches with Miller during the club volleyball season through Northshore. During a brief speech before the presentation, Kipp mentioned getting to know Miller as a player, as a head coach, and as a personal friend. "I won't lie and tell you that I was initially very nervous," Kipp said about working with Miller as a coach. "I remember thinking to myself, 'I hope I don't say the wrong thing.' "I'm sure over the last few years that we have coached against each other, and now on the same bench I have definitely said the wrong things," she added. "However, Nancy has been gracious enough to never tell me that." Kipp continued in her speech to note Miller's influence and love for volleyball, which served as a "changing force" for how the sport is viewed in this part of the state. "She will tell you it was never about her, but it was about the kids," Kipp said. "Well, Coach Miller, this moment is about you." In 31 seasons, Miller's teams finished 619-158 overall, good for a .796 winning percentage. Miller entered the HOF as unofficially one of just 12 coaches in OHSAA history with 600-plus wins. That total entered the 2025 season ranked ninth all-time on the wins list. Throughout her career, Miller led her teams to 19 Firelands Conference championships. In the Division IV tournament, the Lady Flyers won 29 sectional championships in her 31 seasons. Miller's teams also won seven district championships (2002, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016), three regional runners-up trophies (2010, 2011, 2016), four regional championships (2002, 2006, 2007, 2009), two state runners-up trophies (2007, 2009), and two state championships (2002, 2006). She was voted the FC Coach of the Year 15 times, the District 6 COY 10 times, and the OHSVCA Div. IV COY twice. Miller was also an OHSVCA coaches achievement award recipient three times. After taking over as head coach at St. Paul in 1989, Miller's team broke through with an FC title for the first time during her tenure in 1993. That team went 18-4 overall and a perfect 14-0 in the FC. The Lady Flyers added conference titles in 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2001 — with sectional championships from 1990-94 and 1996 to 2001. However, one key step in the tournament trail was missing. St. Paul kept coming up short in the district round — including several district title losses against Buckeye Central. That all changed in 2002 when a loaded St. Paul team steamrolled its way through the regular season and eventually the program's first district and regional championships. After a dominating state semifinal win over Old Fort, the Lady Flyers broke through with a dramatic three-set win — pre-rally scoring — over Maria Stein Marion Local to win the Div. IV state title with a perfect 29-0 record. After stepping away for three seasons as her sons, Zack and Hayden, got involved in sports, Miller returned to the bench in 2006. St. Paul then continued a run that ultimately totaled six state appearances in eight years by winning the Div. IV state title once again in 2006 when it topped New Knoxville in four sets. The Lady Flyers lost to Marion Local in the state title match in 2007 and 2009. They reached the regional title match in 2010, 2011, and 2016. During that dominant stretch that started at the turn of the millennium, St. Paul also had a run of 75 consecutive FC wins and more than 100 straight FC wins at home. Miller is currently a lifetime member of the OHSVCA, where she has been active for all 31 years. She has served her local District 6 association as treasurer since 2013. She helps organize and manage the annual district All-Star event each year. Miller has coached within the Northshore Volleyball Club for 27 years and will continue to do so in retirement. Miller is a high school mathematics teacher at St. Paul and was awarded National Board certification in 2007. She was born in Norwalk to parents Skip and Doris Howell. She graduated from Monroeville and Muskingum College, where she was a 1986 Academic All-American. Her immediate family includes her husband, Tom; sons Zack and Hayden; and their wives, Krista and Katie. Grandchildren include Maverick and Reagan, and Halston and Kinsley. Kalizewski was one of Miller's key players on the 2002 state title team. She then closely worked with her when she was the coach at Norwalk and spent the last several years as an assistant coach before taking over for her prior to last season. "What an honor, and just exciting to be here and be a part of it on many levels," Kalizewski said. "To go from an athlete to having her as a mentor to when I started coaching, then to come back under her and follow her — it's special. She's paved the way for so many that have come out of this program who have stepped out and also decided to get into coaching." Kalizewski said those who choose coaching did so because someone taught them to love the sport. "And that's what she does for people that she encounters and works with," she said. "Coach Miller teaches you how to understand the game and not just play, and that's, I think, the big difference. "It is such a deserved honor. I'm glad we were able to do it at home in front of her family and the St. Paul community so we could show her how much we love her and how special it is for her."