High School Notebook: Englewood hires Marcus Miller as football coach

Marcus Miller is ready for the biggest challenge of his coaching career - building the Englewood High School football program from the ground up.

The Rams hired Miller to take over their program on Monday, hopeful that the former assistant at Oakleaf can help produce the school's first winning season since 2006.

Miller, who coached quarterbacks last year and spent a couple of seasons before that at Bradford, said that he's ready for the challenge.

"I'm trying to get there this week and meet with the kids, developing a relationship with the kids and getting things started," said Miller, who becomes the Rams' third coach since 2007.

The son of a longtime coach at Rochester High School in northern Indiana, Miller was a candidate for the position at Englewood at this time last year. But the Rams choseJeff McCrone, who resigned following a 1-9 season.

Miller and athletic directorMaurice Baconsaid that having a coach in place to guide the players through the crucial strength-training portion of football was critical.

"The first thing we're going to attack is the weight room," Miller said. "We've got to get players stronger and develop them physically before they even think about getting on the football field."

Englewood is 6-44 since 2007 - it also earned a forfeit win over Yulee in 2010 - and hasn't made the state playoffs since 1998. The Rams last posted a winning season in 2006 when they finished 6-4. Englewood started that season 4-1 but suffered district losses to First Coast and Wolfson and missed the playoffs.

"We certainly hope that Marcus will have a long career here at Englewood and help to build it back to where it once was," Bacon said in an email.

Del Rio's son to play out west

Episcopal quarterbackLuke Del Rio will join his father in Colorado.

Former Jaguars coach and new Denver defensive coordinatorJack Del Rio said in a conference call on Monday that his family would be joining him out west. That means Luke, the Eagles' strong-armed signal caller, won't return here for his senior season.

Luke (6-2, 190) had a solid first season at Episcopal, passing for 2,530 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was at Bolles prior to that but transferred so that he could play in the Eagles' passing offense.

Area commitments

Two Ponte Vedra players committed to college programs. Tight endMichael Parrotta pledged to the University of Alabama Birmingham, and linebackerTyler Gleason committed to Wofford. … Bolles defensive tackleMax Tejada, a two-star recruit, according to Rivals.com, committed to Towson. … Harvest Community tight endJackson Wilcox committed to Tusculum, becoming the school's first football signee. … Orange Park linebacker/defensive backKyle Stevens and wide receiver/defensive backVince Perry have both committed to Florida Tech. … All verbal commitments are non-binding under athletes sign letters of intent on Wednesday.

Justin Barney: (904) 359-4248