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COLLEGE BASKETBALL The Last Mile(s) OIT coaching legend Miles returns to Rogue Valley for last game against alma mater Comment By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt MailTribune.com By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt Posted Feb. 6, 2016 at 5:41 PM By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt Posted Feb. 6, 2016 at 5:41 PM --> DANNY MILES WHO: The Oregon Tech men’s basketball head coach and Medford native, in his 45th season, ranks second in history among men’s four-year college coaches ... » Read more X DANNY MILES WHO : The Oregon Tech men’s basketball head coach and Medford native, in his 45th season, ranks second in history among men’s four-year college coaches in all-time victories. WHAT : Miles will coach one final time against Southern Oregon University during the regular season when Oregon Tech visits Ashland. WHEN, WHERE : 7:30 p.m., Tuesday at Ashland High. » Social News ASHLAND — For Danny Miles, there is no place like home. The legendary Oregon Tech men’s basketball coach, a Rogue Valley native, will return to his original neck of the woods for one last regular-season contest against Southern Oregon University at Ashland High on Tuesday. The former multisport star at Medford High and SOU is nearing the end of his final season as the Hustlin’ Owls leader. The year has been one big farewell tour for the 70-year-old Miles, who is in his 45th season and who ranks second in history among men’s four-year college coaches in all-time victories. The Raiders (19-5, 12-2 Cascade Conference) plan to honor Miles with a gift and a few words before the contest against Oregon Tech (17-6, 8-6). Coming back to the place where it all started will be special, Miles says. “We’ve had some great games there and Southern Oregon was so good to me,” he says. “I was able to play three sports (football, basketball and baseball) and had some great opportunities there. It’s going to be a fun night, for sure.” He expects to see many of his old friends, including SOU head football coach Craig Howard and SOU women’s head coach Alex Carlson (who played for Miles). The Hustlin’ Owls will play two more regular-season home games in Klamath Falls and two more road games after the trip to Ashland. After that they hope to extend their year in the postseason. “I have a lot of friends, old friends who I went to school with in the Valley,” Miles says. “I’d imagine there will be ex-teammates and players. It’ll be special to have this one last time.” While he’ll miss the special moments with his extended family, Miles says he will not miss the long bus rides. Last month alone, he and his team drove to Walla Walla, Wash., La Grande and Caldwell, Idaho, in a stretch of eight days. Coaching on Danny Miles Court in Klamath Falls, or simply relaxing at his home in Shady Cove near the Rogue River, is much more preferable, he says. Justin Parnell, the former Sutherlin High and Oregon Tech standout, has been named the associate head coach and is set to replace Miles. Miles informed the school of his decision to retire a few years ago and has given Parnell the recruiting and scheduling duties. Miles’ career mark was 1,034-434 going into Friday’s game against New Hope Christian. Only McKendree University’s Harry Statham (1,098-475 as of Feb. 2) has more wins. Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski was one game back at 1,033-316 before the Blue Devils’ contest on Feb. 2. Herb Magee of Philadelphia University is the only other coach with more than 1,000 victories (1,027 as of Feb. 2). Miles has won an NAIA co-best three national titles, in 2004, ’08 and ’12. He has taken 17 teams to the national tournament, has won a pair of national coach of the year awards and has recorded 10 seasons with 30 victories or more. He was also the subject of an in-depth New York Times piece. SOU head coach Brian McDermott always expects to see a well-coached squad when the Hustlin’ Owls come to town. “Probably more than anything you are always going up against a team that is very confident because of their success,” says McDermott, whose squad fell to OIT, 67-51, on Jan. 5 in Klamath Falls. “The kids have a pretty deep belief in what they’re doing.” McDermott took over as the Raiders’ head coach prior to the 1996-97 season. “I think for a while anytime you got a win against (Oregon Tech) it was a big deal,” he says. “There was a stretch where they won 25 of 27 times against us, or something like that, and it wasn’t a hell of a lot of fun. We’ve gotten that turned around the last few years, but it was a long stretch. The cool thing is, winning or losing, you knew you would be in a great atmosphere when our teams played. Back in the day especially, it would be packed and students would be chanting at each other 30 or 40 minutes before tip.” Ryan Fiegi, a 2004 South Medford High graduate, played for Miles for three seasons after transferring from Western Oregon. He was named the NAIA player of the year while leading Oregon Tech to the ’08 championship. “He recruited me out of high school,” says Fiegi, who is now a CPA in Medford. “When our coach left at Western Oregon, I gave him a call and said, ‘Hey, do you have a place for me?’ And from there he worked his magic.” Former South Medford standout Brent Johnson played at Oregon Tech, also sharing in the ’08 title. He watched the team take on Warner Pacific earlier this year and plans to attend the Hustlin’ Owls’ final regular-season home game against Eastern Oregon University on Feb. 14. “Everyone respects him,” Johnson says. “He’s definitely getting the celebrity treatment.” Miles, who minored in mathematics, graduated from Southern Oregon with a degree in health and physical education. He attended the school from 1964-68 after transferring from Oregon State University, where he received a baseball scholarship but decided to move after an offseason injury. He was dominant in all three of his sports in Ashland. After his playing career there, he coached football, basketball and baseball at Mazama High before becoming head baseball coach at Bend High. The next year, Miles came back to Klamath Falls to work as an assistant coach in those sports. In 1971, Miles took over as head coach of the OIT men’s basketball team. He was also the head baseball coach and offensive coordinator in football. Legendary Pacific Lutheran coach Frosty Westering once gave Miles this bit of advice early on: “The big time is where you are at.” “So every team I had (early on), I thought we were the best show in town,” Miles says. “I didn’t understand why so few people were showing up.” Miles certainly reached the big time on Feb. 1, 2014, when he hit the 1,000-wins mark with a 71-51 triumph over Corban in Salem. He received the John Wooden Keys to Life Award from Athletes in Action last year. Johnson, now an environmental health specialist in Portland, followed in the footsteps of his brother, Alan Johnson, who played on the ’04 championship squad. The common thread with Miles has always been his love and passion, Johnson says. “What I most appreciate is how much he cares about his players,” Brent says. “I think that is why the players play so hard for him. And he has a brilliant basketball mind. I never felt like we were the most talented, but we always had such a good game plan.” Reach reporter Dan Jones at 541-776-4499, or email [email protected]. Find him online at twitter.com/danjonesmt By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt MailTribune.com By Dan Jones Mail Tribune Follow @@danjonesmt Posted Feb. 6, 2016 at 5:41 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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