[2] From 2008 to 2012, Miles was the head coach at his alma mater Indiana State University, from which he holds a bachelor's degree in criminology.

On October 24, 2009, in his second season, Miles earned his first collegiate head coaching victory, when the Sycamores defeated the Western Illinois Leathernecks by a score of 17–14 in the yearly homecoming game.

[5] Miles became the second head coach in the history of the young Georgia State Panthers football program, succeeding the retiring Bill Curry.

The program only began playing intercollegiate football in the 2010 season, but planned to jump to the top, NCAA Division I FBS level, by 2013 and joined the Sun Belt Conference.

[6] Trent Miles was fired as head coach of Georgia State on November 11, 2016 following a loss to Louisiana Monroe 37-23.