Red Miller

----Robert "Red" Miller (born October 31, 1927) was a professional football coach with the Denver Broncos.

Early Coaching Career

Miller was born and raised in Macomb, Illinois and attended Macomb Public Schools and Western Illinois University, where he was later a star player and coach for the Leathernecks football team. He began his coaching career at high schools in Astoria and Canton, Illinois, and at Carthage College.

Miller was an assistant coach with Lou Saban at Western Illinois in the late 1950s before joining Saban with the AFL's Boston Patriots in 1960. He also was an assistant with Buffalo (1962), Denver (1963-65), St. Louis (1966-70), Baltimore (1971-72) and New England (1973-76) before rejoining the Broncos as head coach.

Orange Crush Coaching Years (1977-1980)

Miller was named head coach of the Denver Broncos on January 31, 1977, replacing John Ralston. Miller took a team led by linebackers Randy Gradishar, Bob Swenson, and Tom Jackson, cornerback Louis Wright, safety Billy Thompson and defensive end Lyle Alzado -- mainstays of the "Orange Crush" defense" -- and veteran QB Craig Morton (acquired via trade with the New York Giants) to a 12-2 regular season record and an AFC West Division title.

The Broncos then faced the Tom Landry coached Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XII but lost, 27-10. Interest in that season and team have been revived by author Terry Frei's popular 2008 book, [http://www.terryfrei.com/_wsn/page2.html '77: Denver, the Broncos and a Coming of Age] .

The Broncos also would lose in an NFL AFC Divisional Playoff match against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on December 30, 1978, 33-10. They would also lose the next season to the Houston Oilers 13-7 in a classic NFL Wild Card Playoff match played in the Astrodome on December 23, 1979.

After posting an 8-8 record in 1980, and failing to return to the AFC playoffs, Miller was fired by new owner Edgar Kaiser in the spring of 1981 and replaced with then Dallas Cowboy assistant and former NFL all-pro running back Dan Reeves.

Denver Gold (USFL)

In 1983 Miller became the first head coach of the Denver Gold of the USFL, but feuded bitterly with team owner Ron Blanding and was fired before the completion of the league's first season.

After football

Miller was a successful stockbroker after leaving football. He retired in 1999. He and his wife, Nan, live in Denver.

References

* [http://www.wiu.edu/purpleandgold/byCategory.sphp?category=Sports%20Memorabilia] Red Miller

Biographical Sketch for benefit gala article
* [http://terryfrei.com/_wsn/page2.html] Journalist Terry Frei article about the '77 Denver Broncos and Head Coach Red Miller