The New England Revolution named Jay Miller as its primary assistant coach Thursday. The longtime coach, administrator, scout and instructor will serve as the right-hand man to rookie head coach Jay Heaps.
"I'm very excited to work with Jay [Miller] to build a season-long, tactical approach that improves us each week," Heaps said. "I knew I wanted to bring a highly experienced, tactically-minded coach, and in Jay, he's a coach who's coached at -– and succeeded at -– every level of the game with a wide range of players. I believe he'll provide a solid foundation for our team, both on the practice field and in games."
Miller is one of the leading instructors of coaches in the U.S., having worked for the U.S. Soccer Federation in various capacities since 1981.
He began his coaching career at the collegiate level at the University of Tampa from 1978-87. He moved to the University of South Florida in 1987 for a six-year stint. During that time he also served on the staffs of a number of youth national teams, and led the Americans at the 1985 World University Games.
In 1994, he joined U.S. soccer full time as the head coach of the U-17 national team and assistant coach at the U-20 level. He held both roles through 1997, before joining the senior national team as a scout for the 1998 World Cup.
For much of the last decade, Miller has served as the executive director of coaches for the Atlanta Fire United Soccer Association in Atlanta, Ga.
The Revolution opens its 2012 season on March 10, when it visits the San Jose Earthquakes. It plays its home opener at Gillette Stadium on March 24, when it hosts the Portland Timbers.
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Thumbnail photo via Flickr/nerevolution
