Men's Wrestling Coaching Staff
Scott Miller
Head
Men's & Women's Wrestling Coach
sdmiller@pacificu.edu
Scott Miller is in his sixth year as Pacific's Director of Wrestling and the head coach for both the men's and women's programs, and is committed to continuing the tradition of excellence that Pacific has built over the last 50 years.
On the men's side, Miller continues his quest to build an ultra-competitive program at the only Division III school in the western United States that sponsors the sport. This season, Miller has succeeded to build the roster back up to over 20 wrestlers, which includes a number of past state high school champions.
Miller experienced his best Pacific success during the 2004-05 season. That year, the Boxers finished with a 9-9 dual meet record, which included wins over Division I South Dakota State and a nationally ranked Division III program from Augustana (Ill.). Miller coached a pair of wrestlers to 100-win careers that season and saw Mick Davis advanced to the NCAA Championships at 184 pounds.
Miller has continued to be an agent of change for the Boxers in the world of women's wrestling. After success at the national level in the freestyle discipline, Miller has moved the women's program to the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) and folkstyle wrestling. Miller's largest roster of women, numbering 18 athletes, will compete in the first NCWA national meet in March.
Establishing and maintaining successful programs is nothing new to Miller, who established himself as a successful Division I coach before coming to Forest Grove, compiling a career record of 111-82-1 in 12 seasons at the large college level. He was head coach at Syracuse University for three seasons before the Orangemen program was discontinued in 2001. There, two of his teams were recognized among the National Wrestling Coaches Association's Top 25 Academic Teams.
Before taking the Syracuse position, Miller spent eight seasons at Campbell University in North Carolina and proceeded to turn the Fighting Camels' program around. In his first season the Campbell squad posted 11 dual meet victories, two more wins that the school had in the previous two years combined. In 1994-95 the team went 13-4, the best record by a Campbell wrestling team in 11 years.
Miller's 86 dual meet victories at Campbell are the most in school history. He guided the 1994 Fighting Camels to the MSWA championship and saw nine of his wrestlers win 60 or matches in their Campbell careers.
Prior to Campbell, Miller served as an assistant coach at Springfield College (Mass.) from 1989-90 and assistant coach at Eastern Washington University from 1986-89. In 1989, Miller served as acting head coach, compiling a 12-4 mark.
With his experience at the Division I level, Miller has proven that he can maintain and build the legacy that Pacific wrestling has developed over the years. "We need to maintain a strong foundation," Miller said, "and show our wrestlers that we are in this for the long run. The sooner that our program is in place, the sooner we can talk about regional and national goals.
"In wrestling, no matter what level you are at, you look for great opportunities. Pacific is one of those great opportunities because of the strong alumni support, the administrative support and the stature of the wrestling program on campus."
During his competitive career, Miller was a two-time letterwinner at Eastern Washington and voted as the team's Most Improved Wrestler in 1985. In high school, Miller was a three-time Idaho state tournament qualifier and a two-time regional champion at three different weights.
Miller holds a Bachelor of Art's degree in adaptive physical education from Eastern Washington and a Master's degree in education from Springfield College. He is currently working towards a doctoral degree in higher education administration from Washington State University with emphasis in the study of Title IX issues.
A native of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, Miller, 43, and his wife, Patti, have a eight-year-old daughter, Quincey.
Lewis Coy
Assistant
Head Men's & Women's Wrestling Coach
Lewis Coy is in his fourth season with the Pacific wrestling program and is in his second season as one of the team's assistant head coaches.
"I am happy to have a veteran coach like Lewis on board at Pacific," head coach Scott Miller said. "Lewis will bring a lot of practical mat experience to the room and will give us a good connection to bring some high quality transfers into the program."
Coy will work primarily with the men's wrestling team and will assist in recruiting efforts of junior college transfers to Pacific.
Coy came to Forest Grove after serving six seasons as an assistant coach with the successful Clackamas Community College program. Prior to that, Coy worked as an assistant coach with the Mt. Hood Community College wrestling program.
Coy has coached in Oregon since 1975. His experience included stints as head coach Sandy High School, Parkrose High School and Lake Oswego High School. Since 1976, Coy has coached and operated the Oregon Thunderbolts wrestling club. He has coached a number of highly successful Oregon wrestlers, including current University of Oregon head coach Chuck Kearney.
A native of Santa Clara, Calif., Coy is a 1972 graduate of Oklahoma State.
Jacob Pence
Assistant
Men's & Women's Wrestling Coach
After spending five years honing his coaching skills at the high school level, Jacob Pence returns to his alma mater for his first season as an assistant head coach for Scott Miller.
Pence joins the Pacific staff after five years at Banks High School, including four seasons as head coach between 2004 and 2007. During his tenure, Pence coached athletes to the Oregon state meet each season and saw two of his wrestlers earn state championships. Prior to arriving at Banks, Pence spent one season as an assistant coach at Forest Grove High School.
Pence enjoyed a successful college wrestling career, which included two seasons at Clackamas Community College (1999 & 2000) and two years at Pacific (2001 & 2002). His best success came in 2001 when Pence wrestled to an 18-18 record and a fourth place finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional at 174 pounds.
A native of Prineville, Pence is the 4A representative for the Oregon Wrestling Classic committee and was the Oregon team organizer for the Oregon vs. California All-Star Dual.
Pence earned a degree in exercise science from Pacific in 2002 and earned his Master's of Arts in Teaching degree from Pacific in 2003. Pence and his wife, Rebecca, live in Banks, where he continues to teach at Banks High School.
Kevin Spangler
Assistant
Men's & Women's Wrestling Coach
One of the most successful wrestlers in the Scott Miller era at Pacific, Kevin Spangler moves from the mat to the sidelines for his first season as a Boxers' assistant coach.
Spangler became the latest in a long string of Pacific wrestlers to surpass 100 victories last season, finishing his career with 102 victories. Spangler won 31 matches his senior season, including a 10-4 mark in duals, and finished third at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional at 133 pounds.
As a high school wrestler, Spangler was a two-time Idaho state champion and finished undefeated his senior year. In 2002, Spangler was honored with the prestigious Jake Windsor Award as the most outstanding wrestler in northern Idaho.
A native of Moscow, Idaho, Spangler graduated from Pacific in 2007 with a degree in business.