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Former Servite football coach Bill Miller, who in 1960 guided the Friars to a CIF-SS title in their first season and became a legendary figure in Northern California, has died at age 85 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Miller, who played for the Clare Van Hoorebeke at Anaheim High, led the Friars to a co-title with Santa Ynez in 1960. The teams played to a 26-26 in the final.
He later returned to Anaheim as an offensive coordinator for some strong teams in the 1960s.
But Miller made his biggest mark as coach at Placer, about 30 miles northeast of Sacramento. He guided the school to five San-Joaquin Section titles and seven league titles.
He also led the girls team to nine section championships.