Alex Miller came up in the trenches.
The UMass football team’s new interim head coach played four seasons for the Minutemen at center. He started every game from 2003-06 and was a captain when UMass reached the 2006 national championship game. Miller was an All-American and College Sporting News Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior.
He began his coaching career at Oregon when the Ducks were making Rose Bowls and playing for national championships. The Chantilly, Virginia, native then spent a decade at New Hampshire coaching the Wildcats’ offensive line and running game before returning to Amherst in January to join Walt Bell’s staff.
Miller was named UMass’ interim head coach Sunday after Bell was fired along with defensive coordinator Tommy Restivo over the weekend. It’s not a role he expected or necessarily even wanted, but he answered the call.
“At the end of the day, this is our family. This is my family. And when something happens to your family, you step up and you amp your effort up even higher,” Miller said. “Being a center and being an offensive line coach, you’re usually bearing the responsibility of other people as well. So you’re kind of built for that game.”
Sunday had a fairly normal start for the staff until they were informed of the news. The Minutemen hosted a team breakfast on an off day Monday before returning to practice Tuesday.
“It was pretty sad Sunday. I feel like we lost a few guys from our family,” UMass offensive lineman Max Longman said. “The team breakfast was nice, just break bread coaches and players again. Got after it at practice, lot of energy. Getting out there playing football is going to help us focus on Maine.”
Longman, a redshirt freshman lineman in his third year with the program, has worked with Miller as closely as anyone this season.
“He’s a great leader,” Longman said. “He played here, loves the University of Massachusetts. Being an O-line coach, he coaches a lot of guys already, coaching that many guys in his position group makes the transition probably the easiest.”
UMass will face Maine at noon Saturday at McGuirk Alumni Stadium for Senior Day before closing the season with two road games.
“This is my family,” Miller said. “And I’m going to do whatever it takes to make this family strong and do right by these kids the next couple weeks.”
LET’S GET COORDINATED – In addition to being UMass’ head coach, Walt Bell was also the Minutemen’s offensive coordinator. That means the Minutemen need to fill in for both coordinators this week.
No single person will take over either job. It’ll be a collaborative effort from the offensive and defensive staffs.
Linebackers coach Dan Carrel, in his first season in the role, will call the defense from the press box. Interim defensive tackles coach Jim Reid, a former UMass head coach and defensive coordinator, will aid in short yardage planning, and defensive backs coach Jason Tudryn (a Northampton and UMass grad) will have an eye on the passing game.
“They’re splitting up the duties and making sure those guys are ready to roll over there,” Miller said.
On offense, quarterbacks coach Frederick Walker and tight ends coach Kyle Segler have stepped up on offense. Walker will be in the press box, while Segler will patrol the sidelines.
“Planning wise we’re still working as a staff to make sure we’re on the same page and to get these guys going in the right direction,” Miller said.
QB1? – UMass quarterback Tyler Lytle started his first game since the season opener Saturday against Rhode Island. He missed the previous seven games with a wrist injury sustained against the Panthers.
Miller wouldn’t fully commit to Lytle remaining the starter Saturday against Maine.
“We’re going to see how Tyler feels throughout the week and go from there,” he said. “Obviously the good news/bad news is (true freshman) Brady (Olson) does have some experience. If he has to play, it’s not going to be too earth shattering, but we’re gonna let that play out through practice and make a decision Saturday.”
Olson has completed 48.39 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,032 yards to go along with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s averaged 147.43 yards per game.
In his two starts, Lytle averaged 197 yards through the air while throwing one touchdown and one interception. The Colorado transfer has also ran for two scores.