Leuzinger alum Miller returns as new coach

Jason Miller is headed back to a familiar place.

Miller is a 1996 graduate of Leuzinger High, and he is returning to the school as the football coach for the Olympians.

Miller takes over at Leuzinger after spending the last two seasons at Bellflower High. He replaces Alvin Steen, who coached the Olympians last season.

Leuzinger went 6-5 overall and 4-1 in the Ocean League last season and lost in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 playoffs.

“I'm walking in as a Leuzinger graduate and letting them know I'm one of them,” Miller said. “I've walked those hallways, I've walked the streets to school. I was prom king, captain of the football team, I was all-around Olympian, this is my dream come true.”

Miller moved back to Southern California after coaching at Gunn High in Palo Alto. In his first two seasons at Bellflower, he won league titles.

In 2022, his first season at Bellflower, he led the Buccaneers to the CIF-SS Division 11 championship.

“The formula starts with hard work,” Miller said. “Caring about people first and then teaching kids how to love one another and become productive members of society. I wouldn't win if we only talked about winning.”

Miller's first coaching job was at Leuzinger a couple of years after he graduated from the school. He studied and coached under legendary coach Don Markham, and he utilized the double-wing offense at both Gunn and Bellflower.

He said he will be using a pro-style offense at Leuzinger.

The Olympians are going into the Bay League next season, joining Palos Verdes, Inglewood, Mira Costa, Culver City and Lawndale.

“The Bay League is as challenging as any public school league in California,” Miller said. “We have our work cut out for us.”

Miller said he is putting together his coaching staff.

His coaching resume includes head coaching jobs at Verbum Dei and Inglewood.