“Beloved” Steven Miller Remembered As Joyful Teammate & Coach

It was shocking to learn this morning Arizona State assistant strength coach Steven Miller had died. We passed each other at Tuesday’s spring practice and briefly said hello. I was greeted with the typical smile plastered on his face. It was a quick interaction because they always are with Steven during practice. The former offensive lineman glides with a quick pace, always looking for a place to help, a place to teach, a place to share a quick laugh. There’s whiplash to think that presence won’t be there anymore.

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The Sun Devil Football family mourns the passing of Steven Miller.

We extend our thoughts to those who knew and loved him. pic.twitter.com/Ih7EcydjlI

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) April 16, 2026

For those of us that have been on the beat long enough, we watched Steven grow up. 

He was a standout at Gilbert High School that didn’t hesitate when the hometown school came calling.

“He jumped on board early,” former Sun Devil head coach Todd Graham told me when asked about recruiting Miller. “He wanted to be a Sun Devil. There was no doubt about it.”

An early enrollee, Miller asserted himself along the offensive line and was in the mix for multiple spots along the offensive line while he was technically supposed to still be in high school. 

“He was kind of quiet when he came in, but he was so competitive, man,” former ASU offensive line coach Chris Thomsen said. “I remember when he was young and really trying to make his mark. There was some practice where he would get into it with guys.

“He was the greatest guy in the world off the field, in the meeting rooms, in the classroom. When he walked across that white line, he was a very tough competitor.”

That was the standard for Steven Miller, and that meant that became the standard for the Sun Devil offensive line over his tenure. He would call players out if that standard was not met but never in a demeaning way, according to former ASU tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator Donnie Yantis. 

“He was the ultimate teammate who loved to encourage,” Yantis said. “He loved to be with his guys. He was always happy-go-lucky.”

Always grateful for his opportunity in Tempe, he wanted to provide the same for other players looking at the Sun Devils.

“Anybody we recruited to ASU, he’d help us,” Yantis said. “Whether it’s hosting, connecting with them, all those things to make the connection on how ASU changed his life.”

After his college career ended in 2019, Miller got into coaching. He started back home at Gilbert High School and then connected with former ASU coaches Billy Napier and Rob Sale at UL Lafayette and eventually Florida. 

That meant Thomsen – who is now with Florida State – got to see his old pupil consistently. 

“That was unique in that here we both are all the way across the country, and getting to reconnect,” Thomsen said. 

“He looked great. He really seemed happy with the role. He seemed like he really enjoyed coaching and helping guys develop.”

When Kenny Dillingham got the ASU job ahead of the 2023 season, Miller gave him a call. Dillingham offered him a chance to come home and work with offensive line coach Saga Tuitele. 

“He’s done it, and he’s done it here.” Tuitele said of Miller in 2023. “He’s going to be a really good coach.”

Miller helped with the offensive line and eventually shifted to assistant strength coach under Joe Connelly. It was easy to see Miller on the field, it was easy to hear him too. Some people bring energy to the field, some people manufacture it. Steven emanated energy.

Recently, media was invited to a 6 AM offseason workout. It was the last practice before spring break and focused on agility and competition. No helmets, no hitting. Guys needed to shake off the drowsiness and compete. You could almost feel the kinetic energy bouncing off Steven as he moved from group to group and assisted setting up the drills. That was the norm when you saw Miller on the practice field.

When giving instruction, when moving equipment when interacting with long-time fans, Steven looked at home. 

“He was such a bright soul and had such an amazing spirit about him,” Graham said. “I know that he was giving back and pouring back into kids. When he decided to go into coaching, there’s no doubt that fit him to a T.”

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And it was never lost on him that he got to do all this at his home. He carried the “Hometown Hero” title with pride. 

“I don’t think there’s any kid that I coached when I was at Arizona State that loved and showed more joy and had a smile on his face more than he did,” Graham said. “He truly just had such a gracious heart and was so grateful to get to be a Sun Devil. To get to be a part of that, it meant a lot to him.”

When I interviewed him after his return to Tempe a few years ago, he kept using the phrase “home is where the heart is.” Maybe some will take solace in the fact that for much of his 29 years of life, he got to do what he loved with the people he loved in a place he loved, and so many around him loved him back.

“He was loved by coaches and players,” Thomsen said. “That’s the main thing: He was beloved.”