Laurel football logging its Miles
This story can be seen for Miles and Miles and Miles and Miles.
Make a four-point turn at a Laurel High School football practice or game and you’ll see a Miles male at every turn. It can start with Mitch Miles, a 6-foot3½, 295-pound junior lineman who has done quite well, making himself a possible major-college recruit. Already this fall, he has been invited to and attended games at Pitt, Notre Dame and Duke. Michigan State wants him to come for a game in a few weeks.
But if Miles ever wants a pointer from his line coach at Laurel, he must talk to his dad. If Mitch wants to know anything about the team’s receivers, he will go to his uncle. And if there is any question about special teams, Mitch has to approach his grandpa.
It’s the Family Guy IV show at Laurel, a WPIAL Class 1A school in Lawrence County.
“I think the last few years I’ve realized how special this is,” said Ryan Miles, Mitch’s father. “It’s a real cool experience not many people get.”
Ryan Miles, 46, is Laurel’s line coach under head coach Brian Cooper.
Casey Miles, 43, and Ryan’s younger brother, is Laurel’s receivers coach.
And then there is grandpa. George Miles, 72, is the father of Ryan and Casey, and the grandfather of Mitch. George Miles is a legendary former Laurel head coach, who had a record of 201128-4 from 1972-2003 and won a WPIAL title in 1980. He is now a volunteer coach with Laurel and coaches the Spartans’ special teams.
So how does a teenager like having three family members around as coaches?
“It’s a pretty cool experience, at least with my grandpa and spending time with him,” Mitch Miles said. “My uncle and my dad push me a little harder.”
Ryan Miles was a manager for his father’s championship team in 1980. Nine years later, Ryan was a player for his father when Laurel lost in a WPIAL title game at Three Rivers Stadium. Six years later, Ryan joined his father’s staff as an assistant and has been coaching with him ever since.
Now, Ryan Miles is helping coach his son, something that he vowed he wouldn’t do.
“Playing for your dad has its ups and downs. Playing for my dad was no treat at times,” Ryan Miles said. “I’m sure Mitch is learning some of the same lessons now that I learned.”
Ryan Miles laughed a little after that comment and before the next one.
“I’m a walking hypocrite,” Ryan Miles said. “I don’t believe a parent should be coaching their own kid because they don’t listen to us. Now here I am doing it.”
Many fathers who coach their kids will acknowledge they are harder on their own son or daughter than they are other players. Mitch sees it with his father, but he understands.
“I feel like he kind of has to be harder on me,” Mitch Miles said. “If he takes it easy on me, other people won’t trust him as much.”
You can trust Mitch Miles to be one of the best junior linemen in the WPIAL.
Although he doesn’t have scholarship offers from any of those major colleges, they could be coming in the future. Cooper calls Miles the best blocker he has seen in 26 years as a head coach or assistant. Mitch Miles has helped Laurel to a 5-3 record this season.
Mitch Miles plays offensive guard, but can play center, too. He also is a defensive tackle. Colleges are recruiting him for offense.
“A lot of these colleges look for a 6-5 kid. Mitch is just under 6-4,” Cooper said. “But his drive blocking is getting him a lot of interest. He’s a big-time wrestler also.
“He’s definitely on a lot colleges’ radar. I’m sure they’re just waiting and watching film from his junior year. This is a big year for him.”
And if those college coaches have any questions for Laurel coaches, they can just call the Miles family.