Dallastown football coach Ron Miller resigns for 'personal reasons' after four seasons

After his best season in four years at the school, Ron Miller has resigned as Dallastown High School head football coach. 

Miller confirmed the decision Thursday afternoon, saying it was due to "personal reasons" between him and his family. He said it was his decision to step down but declined to go into detail.

Miller said he will remain an alternative education teacher at the school. 

"I've got some things going on at home, some personal things, and it's one of those things where I've got to focus on my family," Miller said. "I can't give the commitment (to coaching) necessary. 

"It's tough and not something I was originally planning on. It was more toward the end of the season. We took a week to reflect. My wife and I talk through things every year and this is the best thing for us."

Dallastown athletic director Josh Luckenbaugh confirmed it was Miller's decision to resign. 

Luckenbaugh said the school plans to post the open coaching position to the district website in December. 

"We'd like to thank coach Miller for his time and commitment to the program," Luckenbaugh said. "We respect his decision to focus on his personal well-being." 

Miller went 14-22 in four seasons with the Wildcats and posted just one winning season. But that season came this fall as Dallastown went 6-4 after going 3-13 the past two seasons. 

The Wildcats were in playoff contention most of the season but finished 11th in District 3 Class 6A — three spots out of a tough-to-crack bracket in the biggest classification. Close back-to-back losses to playoff teams Spring Grove (28-21) and Central York (31-21) late in the season hurt the Wildcats chances. 

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Miller was hired at Dallastown in 2018 — four years after he ended an outstanding tenure at West York. In nine years there, he led the Bulldogs to an 86-25 record that included four trips to the District 3 semifinals, two trips to the championship game and a District 3 Class 3A title in 2008. 

Class 3A was the second-biggest classification at the time, making West York the first YAIAA team to win a District 3 title at that high of a level. 

Miller was so successful during his time at West York that he was offered the head coaching job at prestigious Cumberland Valley in 2013, but turned it down to remain with the Bulldogs. He stepped down two years later, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. 

He arrived at Dallastown with high expectations after former coach Kevin Myers led the Wildcats to 10 playoff appearances in 13 seasons. But while Dallastown was competitive during a 5-5 season in 2018, they went through a 2-8 rebuilding season in 2019 and then went 1-5 during a COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. 

"Obviously I didn't get us where we wanted to get to," Miller said. "We had a down year (in 2019) and then the COVID year. It's been tough with the pandemic. But I can say I'll miss my staff. They're a great group of guys."

Miller said he didn't think he struggled transitioning back to coaching after being away from it for three seasons. He said there weren't any "earth-shattering" challenges in taking over at a different school. 

He thanked Dallastown for the opportunity and said he has "nothing but great things to say" about the school district. 

He said he will miss building relationships with players and that it was "brutal" to tell them of his resignation this week. 

Dallastown will bring back a good amount of talent next season, including rising senior wide receiver Kenny Johnson, who has four Division I offers and one from Penn State. Rising sophomore receiver Michael Scott showed vast potential this season and rising senior quarterback Owen Strouse got good experience. 

Miller, who will turn 51 in a few weeks, said he won't rule out a return to coaching at some point but he doesn't have anything planned right now. 

"I'll never say never, but I'm getting up there (in age) and I'm just trying to stay focused on my family," Miller said about his coaching future. "It's absolutely bittersweet (to step down after a winning season). The program made great strides this year and is on the right trajectory. Whoever gets the job will get a great group of young men." 

Matt Allibone is a sports reporter for GameTimePA. He can be reached at 717-881-8221, mallibone@ydr.com or on Twitter at @bad2theallibone.