Hillcrest Academy Pitch Named ‘Marcus Miller Field’

During Homecoming weekend, on a cool October 10 evening under the lights, Hillcrest Academy gathered to honor a legacy that shaped generations. In a special ceremony led by Director of Advancement Jeremy Ours, the school officially dedicated its soccer field as Marcus Miller Field. The night was filled with gratitude and memories as players, families, and friends celebrated a coach whose impact reached far beyond the game.

Marcus Miller ’76, whose soccer passion with Hillcrest Academy and Iowa Mennonite School goes back to the 1970s when he played a starring role in the school’s only unbeaten soccer season, helping his IMS teammates go 14-0 in the fall of 1975. Former principal and teammate Dwight Gingerich said of Marcus, “He was a great player. He was a star. He was one of our key players.”

Star player turned star coach, Marcus Miller enters his 33rd season as Head Raven, with a career coaching record of 305-202-10, winning almost 70% of the matches in which he’s been on the sideline. His teams have finished with a winning record 20 times, at least 10 wins 16 times and 15 wins five times. The top number being 19 victories in 1997. Miller also helped get the Mid-Prairie girls soccer program off the ground coaching the team for its first three years of play. Under Miller’s direction, the program has reached the State tournament six times: in the fall of 1996, 1997 (winning the State Championship), 1998, 2000, and in the spring of 2018 and 2019.  

As evident by his tremendous record, Marcus has always found a way to get the most of his teams by building great team chemistry. Marcus is considered a players coach, meaning he is there for his players on and off the field. Miller doesn’t just preach his adopted motto of “you’ll never walk alone” to his soccer teams, he practices it. No matter what, he’s there for his team. 

Marcus retired from teaching Social Studies last year, after 32 years. Time will tell when he plans to hang up his coaching whistle, but for at least one more year, before every game Marcus will be able to mark the lines on the field that bears his name.

Later this month the Alumni Association along with the generous support of many soccer alumni, will be installing a new scoreboard on what will forever be known as MARCUS MILLER FIELD. Marcus, you once said in an interview that, “the soccer field always felt like home.” This field will now be your home for generations to come, with your name standing in bold two-foot letters for every player and fan to see.

Congratulations Marcus. 

Every alumni player from the oldest (Matthew Rhodes ’94) to the youngest (Kyle Neuschwander ’25) played for Marcus. That’s what you call a legacy.

Read more from our friends at KCII Radio in their article.