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PREP NOTEBOOK Challengers move quickly to add Miles Revered ex-Oregon Tech coach will serve as assistant AD By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry MailTribune.com By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry Posted Apr. 11, 2016 @ 6:22 pm Updated Apr 12, 2016 at 6:41 PM By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry Posted Apr. 11, 2016 @ 6:22 pm Updated Apr 12, 2016 at 6:41 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> The way Cascade Christian athletic director Dave Fennell sees it, you can’t get anywhere without first taking a step. As one of many who followed the triumphant final tour of legendary Oregon Tech men’s basketball coach Danny Miles, who was also a standout three-sport athlete at Medford High and Southern Oregon University, Fennell was thoroughly engaged listening to Miles speak locally in February at the Southern Oregon Sports Commission awards banquet. Not knowing what Miles had planned following his retirement from OIT after 45 years as head coach, Fennell felt the need to at least engage him in a conversation over filling a role at Cascade Christian High that he believed was perfect for all involved. So Fennell sent an email, the two set up a lunch to get further acquainted, one thing led to another and lo and behold, Fennell found himself with an assistant athletic director in Miles. The parties agreed to terms last week and the move was announced Friday. “I’m still shocked, I’m not going to lie to you,” Fennell said Monday of his new part-time hire. “I still kind of feel like we’re the ones who hit the winning shot at the championship game.” The 70-year-old Miles will assist Fennell with coach development, program development, player development and college recruitment for all of the Challengers’ athletic programs at the middle school and high school levels. Miles, who lives in Shady Cove with wife Judie and their recently adopted daughter from Rwanda, said Monday that he was excited and appreciative of the opportunity set before him by the administration at Cascade Christian. “I’m not a golfer and that kind of stuff,” Miles said of shunning typical post-retirement plans, “and I just wanted to be involved with youth sports in some way. They approached me about the possibility of being a resource for the coaches and it kind of fits really what I was looking for in terms of a faith-based situation. What Dave Fennell was looking for and I was looking for kind of meshed perfectly.” In Miles, the Challengers get someone with the kind of resume few programs can match. The 1963 Medford High graduate is one of only four men’s basketball coaches to win 1,000 games at the four-year level. Miles wrapped up his coaching career with a 1,040-437 record, ranking third to McKendree’s Harry Statham (1,101-480) and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski (1,043-321) and ahead of Philadelphia’s Herb Magee (1,032-409). Miles was a three-time NAIA coach of the year after leading the Hustlin’ Owls to NAIA championships in 2004, ‘08 and ‘12. He received the John Wooden Keys to Life Award from Athletes in Action last year and earned the NAIA’s Champion of Character Award for all sports in 2009. Miles is also a charter member of the Medford and SOU sports halls of fame for his exploits in football, basketball and baseball and has coached summer clinics in France, Australia, China and Africa over the years. Beyond his wealth of achievement and accolades, the simple truth is Miles is an even better person than any award can summarize. “I don’t think you can find anyone better than Danny Miles,” said Fennell. “The humility of the man blows me away. He’s just the real deal. I just can’t say enough about him.” Miles is expected to work around 25 hours per week and already has an office set up at Cascade Christian, with many of the school’s coaches from Jon Gettman (football) to Dan Vidlak (wrestling) clamoring to meet with him and discuss coaching and program development. Boys basketball coach Brian Morse said he was so giddy with the idea of bringing Miles into the fold that he was willing to move over to an assistant’s role if that would help cinch the deal. Morse, mind you, ranks 12th on Oregon’s all-time victories list at 524-212. It should be noted that Miles has absolutely no desire to take over any of the school’s programs. “It’s neat to see our coaches’ response to this because they’re so hungry to learn from him,” said Fennell. “And this isn’t just about Cascade Christian, this is about every coach in the valley and making sure he’s accessible to them as well. It’s kind of like we get to keep a local treasure here in the valley and keep him connected with coaches and kids.” And, in the end, that’s precisely what draws Miles in, even though he said many of his friends “were shocked” by the recent news. “The reason I got out of coaching is I had some health issues and now I’m cancer free,” said Miles. “I still love coaching and I love being around kids and being of any help I can be. I wasn’t really looking for anything in particular but this kind of opened up.” Miles said he received a handful of other opportunities, including one with good friend Craig Howard at SOU and another as a Division I assistant coach, but his wife is adamant that his life include no more road trips — at least none beyond his regular commute into Medford, which is four-times shorter than he’s had commuting to Klamath Falls. “I think this will be a lot of fun,” said Miles. “The people I have met already have been real impressive people and if I can just help their program in any way, I’d sure like to be able to do that. They have good coaches (at Cascade Christian). I look at it more as being a resource for them.” Miles said he hopes to continue his relationship with Cascade Christian for another five years or so, but he’s not putting a timetable on his commitment. Fennell said he’s open to Miles being around “until he’s 85 or 90, if we can.” “What Danny is able to do with some of these younger coaches is to help them learn the balance of things,” said Fennell. “Having him around is going to be very transformative for Cascade Christian, I know.” With Fennell focusing more on his role as director of advancement, where he oversees marketing, fundraising and development for the middle school and high school, it seemed natural for him to seek out an assistant to help with his athletic department duties. His primary goal was to find a seasoned voice and sounding board for his coaches, as well as someone with the spiritual and fundamental values in keeping with the school’s foundation. Fennell will still oversee most of the athletic director duties but said he’s pretty well given Miles the keys to the athletic programs. “You’re definitely going to see a Danny Miles thumbprint on everything that we do,” said Fennell. “I’m really excited for that. I’m looking forward to learning from him as an athletic director because I think he’s got a lot to teach.” Reach reporter Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected], www.facebook.com/krishenryMT or www.twitter.com/Kris_Henry By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry MailTribune.com By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Follow @@Kris_Henry Posted Apr. 11, 2016 @ 6:22 pm Updated Apr 12, 2016 at 6:41 PM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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