Crawford Football Coach Resigns to Take Job at SDSU

Chris Miller resigned Wednesday as football coach at Crawford High School to become a graduate assistant to new San Diego State football Coach Denny Stolz.

Miller will coach the defensive backs at SDSU.

Miller was 32-17-3 in five seasons at Crawford. The Colts qualified for the section playoffs in each of the past four years and won the City Central League championship in 1984 and ’85. Last season Crawford was 9-2-1 and the 2-A runner-up to league-rival Lincoln.

Crawford did not win a game in 1980--the year before Miller took over--and had not won a league title since 1962.

“It’s tough to leave Crawford,” Miller said, “because I had such a great staff and we worked so hard to improve the program. But my goal is to one day be a head coach at the college level. You’ve got to start somewhere and this is a great opportunity for me.

“As soon as Denny (Stolz) got the job at State, I went over there and got in line to apply. I’m 35 years old so it was now or never if I was going to make the jump.”

Miller played football at SDSU. He was the starting offensive center from 1970-72 under Don Coryell.

Roger Engle will replace Miller at Crawford. Engle, who also is the Colts’ baseball coach, served as Miller’s offensive coordinator for five years. Engle will continue to coach baseball as well.