Matt Miller named new A.D. at Pottstown

He brings an extensive resume’ to his new job at Pottstown High School. Extensive ... and well-rounded. Matt Miller started the current school year as Pottstown’s Director of Co-Curricular Activities. He was named to replace Steve Anspach, who left the district in July to take over as Pottsgrove’s athletic director from Gary DeRenzo, who became the district’s Director of Community Relations and Co-Curricular Programs.

And he’s enjoying the latest stop in a career path effected more than 10 years ago.

“I like Pottstown. It’s a welcoming community,” Miller said. “The opportunity work with kids is fantastic ... to interact with them in a co-curricular manner.”

It started with Miller graduating from West Chester University with a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education.

He was on an accelerated pace, completing the degree in 2-½ years.

Miller then went on to earn a master’s in Education Administration from Point Pleasant University, located in Pittsburgh, in 2017. He also got his principal’s certification for Grades K-12 along the way.

It was all part of a switch of vocations, having been previously employed in food service with Aramark Corporation.

“In 2006, I decided it was not the most fulfilling,” he said. “I wanted to pay back my mentors by becoming a mentor myself.”

Miller spent eight years at charter schools in Philadelphia. He was on the health and PE faculty at Martiner Academy Charter, also serving as athletic director and coach of the school’s cross country and track teams. He then went to Mariana Bracetti Academy where he was head of the HPE department and athletic directory.

“I’m looking to make Pottstown a long-term stop,” he said. “Kids need a role model, and I want to be that.”

At Pottstown, Miller wants to maintain impact on the students’ athletic experience in a number of sports. Through that, he hopes they achieve greater success.

“I want to focus on youth

programs other than football and wrestling,” he said.

Thus far, Miller is excited about the course the tennis programs are taking under new head coach Lauren Perez Bralski. The operations manager for Greater Pottstown Tennis & Learning, Perez Bralski is working with a small number of players this fall, but the hope is to generate more interest in the sport.

The district is also working to reverse the flagging fortunes of the high-school softball program. It initiated a middle-school program to serve as a feeder, getting players knowledge of the basics before they reach the high-school level.

“We want to get girls in Grades 6, 7 and 8 out playing,” Miller said.

And the high school is reviving its boys golf program. This fall, the team is playing a junior-varsity schedule toward a return as a varsity-level entity.

“We have four kids on team,” Miller said. “It’s nice to see them out playing.”

At the same time, Miller is focused on helping the students balance the academic and athletic aspects of the educational experience.

“Academic eligibility can ruin rosters,” he said. “I want to make changes to give athletes extra study hall time.”

Miller has interest in seeing the results the ambitious agenda has for the future.

“Excited for the next couple years, to see the growth impact,” he said.