As a student, Miller was competitive in high school in basketball, football, wrestling, and track, while fencing at a local YMCA.
[3] He first attended community college, where he worked designing swimming pools, but quickly learned that he wanted a job that involved physical activity.
[3] Miller transferred to Florida State in 1966 and then earned a master's degree at Eastern Kentucky University, and Ph.D. from UNC in Exercise Science, Higher Education, Guidance and Psychology in 1974.
[5] While in graduate school, Miller had written a paper on the kinesiology of fencing and a professor of his put him in touch with the chair of UNC's physical education.
[4] Miller was two-time NCAA Coach of the Year and in 2017 was honored as a Priceless Gem at UNC, “in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the University of North Carolina.” In 2023, he was inducted in the USA Fencing hall of fame.