MAINEVILLE -- With Little Miami Schools Board of Education approval on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at their regular monthly meeting, former assistant coach Joel Miles has been nominated and approved to ascend into the varsity head coaching as the next leader for the boys' lacrosse program at LMHS. Miles replaces veteran coach Matt Traister who departed the program at the conclusion of the 2024 season for retirement.
With Miles' elevation into this new role, the athletic department felt great comfort in Coach Miles' leadership for taking over the program due to his longtime commitment to both Little Miami lacrosse and the LM community in general. However, Miles' story didn't begin in Southwest Ohio. Coach Miles is a 1998 graduate of Wooster High School in Wooster, Ohio. Following graduation, Miles enrolled at the University of Cincinnati in Clifton before transferring close by to Cincinnati State where he graduated in April of 2002 with an associate of applied business degree with an emphasis on landscape horticulture.
In 2010, Coach Miles put his education into motion when he founded Miles of Green Lawn Care based here in Maineville. For the last 14 years, Coach Miles has managed all daily operations of the business, with duties including everything from sales, marketing, customer service, and revenue growth. However, in addition to his business, Coach Miles has always had a passion for coaching and Little Miami lacrosse.
Since 2015, Coach Miles has been a youth lacrosse coach with the Little Miami Lacrosse Association where he has coached various age groups, focusing on foundational skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship. He's also designed and executed age-appropriate drills and practice sessions, and collaborated with other coaches to develop association-wide initiatives and events. In 2020, Coach Miles was elevated the middle school level within the LMLA where he has been since. Currently, Middle School lacrosse operates under the jurisdiction of the LMLA, and as is loosely affiliated with Little Miami Schools. And in four seasons of leadership, Coach Miles has carried out tasks such a overseeing all aspects of the middle school lacrosse program, including practice planning, game strategy, and game scheduling. While also introducing innovative training techniques, including comprehensive film study to improve player performance and engagement. All variables that will translate nicely into his varsity head coaching role.
And in 2021, Coach Miles joined the ranks of the LMHS boys' lacrosse program as the JV head coach which also included assisting with the varsity team. "I took great pride in working closely with Coach Traister to ensure unity between teams when we coached together," said Miles. "My time leading the JV team gave me the opportunity to mentor assistant coaches, and that fostered a collaborative coaching environment. Additionally, I had the opportunity to organize and lead our summer sports camp, which supported the enhancement of skills and knowledge of rising young athletes. All variables I'm excited to build upon in my new role," Miles concluded.
Additionally, Coach Miles is married to Little Miami executive director of student services Jamie Miles and the couple have two boys that have both participated in the LMHS boys' lacrosse program in recent years.
In 2024, the Panthers completed their season at 9-10 overall and finished No. 6 in the ECC with a 3-5 conference record. Alec Anderson was a second-team All-ECC honoree and Austin Beaver was tabbed honorable mention.
