Dave Miller was named the head coach of the men's and women's water polo programs in September of 2015 and quickly made an impact. He took over a Lindenwood program that had won the 2014 Collegiate Water Polo Association Men's Division I Club Championship and guided the Lions to their second straight national title in 2015. Miller also led the men's squad to national championship victories in 2016 and 2018.
The St. Louis, Missouri resident brings close to 50 years of coaching experience to the two programs, having managed age group through masters water polo programs, including USA Water Polo clubs, and high school, college club, senior men’s, and women’s water polo teams. He is a certified USA Water Polo Gold Level coach, has served on the USA Water Polo Board of Directors, is a past president of Missouri Water Polo, and is currently a member of the Missouri Water Polo Hall of Fame.
Miller most recently served as the head water polo coach at Mehlville High School in St. Louis as well as head coach for MOA Aquatics (Gators Water Polo) since 2013. His list of achievements is quite extensive. He was the USA Water Polo Volunteer of the Year in 2001 and the Midwest Zone Elite Coach of the Year in 2000. He served as Assistant USA Water Polo National Youth Team Coach from 1999 to 2001, was Director of Player Development in 12 states for the USA Water Polo Midwest Zone, and he was led the USA Water Polo Midwest Zone Youth and Junior Teams, developing five national team members in the process. Miller was the head water polo coach at Oakville High School in St. Louis from 1991 to 2000, leading the program to a .890 winning percentage. He led the Cape Swim Team in Cape Girardeau, Mo., to three undefeated seasons from 1975 to 1978, and headed the Southeast Missouri State University water polo team from 1974 to 1977.
Miller also compiled a great track record as a high school and college player. He earned All-Conference awards every season in that span, played in five AAU Senior Men’s Championships, played and coached on three consecutive Missouri State Championship teams, played on two consecutive California Community College Athletic Association teams, and was named to the All-Southwest U.S. Team in 1977.
Miller earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and Physical Science from Southeast Missouri State. He also spent time at Goldenwest College in Huntington Beach, California.
July 2019
