For the four year in a row, IMG Academy will have a new head coach. The Bradenton, Florida-based sports school has announced that Billy Miller is taking-over the national team for the 2022 season.
Miller, who started at IMG in 2014, is being elevated from assistant head coach to head coach of the Ascenders. He’ll also continue to be in control of the program’s special teams.
Prior to joining IMG, Miller spent three years as an assistant coach in the NFL, most recently as special teams scouting assistant with the New England Patriots in 2014. As special teams assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012 and 2013, Miller was responsible for quality control of special teams, including all breakdowns and analysis of opponents for the six phases of special teams. His unit ranked first in the NFL in blocked punts in 2012 and second in the NFL in 2013 and was the top-ranked team in kickoff drive start in 2013.
We are very happy to announce that heading into our 2022 football season Billy Miller will permanently fill the Head Coach position for our National Team. pic.twitter.com/1aNHh6xPdU
— IMG Academy Football (@IMGAFootball) March 22, 2022
“For the past eight seasons Billy has shown exceptional head coach traits with his development of our student-athletes both on and off the field,” said IMG Academy Athletic Director Scott Dean. “His passion and success on the field as assistant head coach and special teams coordinator is equally matched by his dedication to his players off the field through directly assisting with college placement and recruiting. We couldn’t be more excited to have him guide our program into the 2022 season.”
“I’ve been incredibly proud to be a part of the IMG Academy staff, and I’m honored to become the national team’s next head coach,” said Miller. “This is an incredible program with some of the most talented high school players in the country and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to lead this team and the development of its student-athletes.”
Miller replaces former NFL linebacker Pepper Johnson, who led the program to a 9-1 season last year. The Ascenders finished No. 16 last year in our national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football.
Johnson took-over for Bobby Acosta, who left IMG after leading the school to its first-ever national championship during the 2020. Acosta took the head coach job at Del Valle High School in Austin, Texas.
Acosta replaced Kevin Wright, who took at college coaching job at the Indiana University. During his 5-years at IMG, Wright led the program to a 44-2 record.
