Raider Softball Head Coach Courtney Miller announces retirement

Following a historic, three-decade career as head coach of the Seminole State College of Florida Fastpitch Softball Program, Courtney Miller has announced her retirement. In honor of her remarkable achievements, she will be inducted into the Florida College System Activities Association Softball Hall of Fame in May. An on-field retirement recognition for Coach Miller is planned for April 27, immediately following her last home game vs. Hillsborough Community College.

A native of Jasper, Missouri, Miller attended and played softball at Crowder Community College and Missouri State University (formerly known as Southwest Missouri State). She began her coaching career as a softball graduate assistant at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota. In 1991, Miller was named head coach and guided the team to the NCAA Midwest Regional Tournament and a top 10 final NCAA DII ranking. 

In May 1994, Miller moved to Seminole County where she established the Seminole State College of Florida fastpitch softball program as its first head coach. Miller spent the next 30 seasons building the Raiders into one of Florida's premier softball programs. 

She led the Raiders to a FCSAA state title in 2012, advancing to the NJCAA national tournament where the team placed eighth in the nation. That year, she was also named the FCSAA Coach of the Year. 

In 2017, the program set a new school record with 53 wins and captured the Mid-Florida Conference title. Miller was also named the MFC Coach of the Year.

Under Miller's leadership, the Raiders achieved many notable milestones including 19 FCSAA State Tournament appearances. Her athletes also earned individual honors including:  

• 14 NJCAA All-Americans
• 23 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Americans
• 53 FCSAA All-State
• 120 Mid Florida All-Conference
• 53 NFCA All-South Region 
• 41 FCSAA All-Tournament players 

She has coached four Mid-Florida Conference Female Athletes of the Year and one Overall Female FCSAA Player of the Year. Her athletes have also claimed eight FCSAA Softball Player of the Year awards and 11 Mid-Florida Softball Player/Pitcher of the Year honors.

Most important, her scholar-athletes have shined in the classroom: 

• 321 players have been named Academic All-Conference
• 212 FCSAA Academic All-State
• 74 NJCAA Academic All-American 
• 132 NFCA Academic All-Americans  

Miller also coached four Jean Williams award winners, an honor that recognizes state softball players who not only excel on the field but also in the classroom and in service to their community. Two Raiders have been named Mid-Florida Scholar Athlete of the Year, one FCSAA Scholar Athlete of the Year and her 2012 team was named the Mid-Florida Conference and FCSAA Academic Team of the Year.

Miller served as the Mid Florida Conference Softball Chair for 22 years, and also served as the NJCAA All-American representative for three terms. In 2023, she was inducted into the Seminole County Sports Hall of Fame.

Miller ends her career as the third winningest coach in the NJCAA and first in NJCAA Division One with 1,162 current wins. In 2023, she reached a coaching milestone when she earned her 1,200th career college win on April 26 in a 11-1 victory over Daytona State College. Her current career coaching record stands at 1230-697 for a .638 winning percentage.

Following her retirement from coaching, Miller will continue her role as professor and athletic adviser at Seminole State College.

Reflections from Coach Courtney Miller

"My 30 years leading the softball team at Seminole State College have been the greatest joy of my life," Miller says. "I was fortunate President Dr. [Earl] Weldon and Athletic Director Larry Castle took a chance on a young coach and believed in the vision I had for the program and its future. 

Many great players have put on a Raider uniform and I have been grateful for their hard work and commitment to our culture. None of this would have happened without all of those student-athletes who chose to attend Seminole State and be a part of our program. I consider myself so lucky to have been able to do what I love everyday. All of the young women I coached made this the greatest job in the world. 

I am thankful for all the people who have supported me and this program over the years. I have worked under great administrators and athletic directors who allowed this program to thrive and be what it is today. Raider Nation will only get better and I can't wait to watch!"

To read reflections from Miller's colleagues, view this story at seminolestateraiders.com.