Preston Butch Miller was born on December 6, 1945 in Alexandria, Virginia. Known by all as “Butch,” he graduated from Falls Church High School in Virginia. After high school, he had to choose between professional baseball and college. He chose college. Butch graduated from Emory and Henry College in 1967 and from Appalachian State with a Master’s degree in 1968.
After receiving his graduate degree, Butch taught and coached baseball at Clinton Community College in Clinton, Iowa before coming to Mercer in September of 1972. In the 21 seasons Butch coached at Mercer from 1973 to 1993, his teams amassed an impressive 508-263 won-loss record, and he became the winningest baseball coach in Mercer history. Butch never had a losing season.
While at Mercer, Butch coached the 1989 18U National Baseball team, which won the World Junior Baseball Championship with a with a 7-0 record, beating Cuba in the Gold Medal game, 11-3. In recognition of his coaching achievements at Mercer, the Butch Miller Baseball Pavillion was named in his honor on April 10, 2016.
Tonight, Butch is represented by his loving wife of 31 years, Charlene, and virtually by his son, Stewart, who is the Headmaster of Riverview School in East Sandwich, Massachusetts.
