Samantha Miller is in her second season serving as an assistant coach of the New York University softball team. She is working primarily with the Violets’ pitchers and hitters, as well as assuming the role of Recruiting Coordinator.
Last season, Miller helped lead the Violets to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Metro Championship. The young team, which consisted of 13 freshmen and only one senior, compiled a 25-16 record and finished the season on a nine-game winning streak. The squad also won its first-ever University Athletics Association (UAA) games in program history, defeating both Case Western Reserve University and the University of Rochester twice during the UAA Championship.
NYU, in only its second season as a varsity program, completed its historic campaign with a victory over Farleigh Dickinson University-Florham in the ECAC Championship Game. The Violets entered the fifth inning down 5-2 before rallying with two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to win the game 7-5 and secure the first title in program history.
One of Miller’s pupils, Diana King, had a breakout rookie season for the Violets. She led the team with 59 hits, eight home runs and 10 stolen bases, while finishing second with a .428 batting average, 31 RBIs and a .688 slugging percentage. She also had success in the circle, leading the team with nine wins, seven complete games and 60 strikeouts, while posting a 2.84 ERA. King was honored for her successful season as she was named Second Team All-Northeast Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and First Team All-UAA.
Prior to joining NYU, Miller worked on the staff of FDR High School in Hyde Park, NY, for five years and served as Head Coach for two seasons (2014, 2015). In 2015, she led the Presidents to their first league championship since 2009.
Miller is also the owner and an instructor of the Golden State Softball Academy, where she offers private and group instruction, as well as various clinics throughout the year. Miller also does private instruction for Hit and Run, an indoor training center in Poughkeepsie, NY.
A 2007 graduate of the University of Bridgeport with a Bachelor of Science degree in human services and a minor in psychology, Miller was a two-year captain of the NCAA Division II Knights’ back-to-back ECAC Champion softball teams. In 2006, she was selected NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) All-Region, MVP of the ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Championship Tournament and was nationally ranked in four categories: walks, stolen bases, toughest to strike out, and ERA. In 2007, Miller was chosen Pre-Season Player of the Year by the ECAC.
Following graduation, Miller played one season for the Stratford Brakettes of the National Pro Fastpitch Association.
A native of Redding, CA, Miller resides in Rhinebeck, NY, with her husband Drew, their daughter Piper and son Axel.
