WAYNE , N.J. – Following three seasons as the William Paterson University football head coach, Mike Miello has announced his decision to step down from his position at the university.

During his three years, Miello led the Pioneers to an 11-19 overall record, including 5-5 marks in 2005 and 2007. This fall, William Paterson won three of its final four contests to finish at .500, and registered a 3-4 mark in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play for its best conference record since 1994 (3-2). Fourteen student-athletes earned all-NJAC honors during his first two seasons at William Paterson, including Shadee Davis, the second all-American in Pioneer history (2007 awards to be released next week).

“I am very appreciative of the opportunity I was afforded three years ago to become the head coach at William Paterson,” said Miello. “I believe that we have made some significant progress during that time in terms of building the program, and I feel confident that the team will continue to make even greater strides next season. We have been able to create a sense of self-discipline on and off the field, establish a family atmosphere within the program, and teach our young men how to win during the last three years, and I think those are traits that will serve each of them well for the rest of their lives.”

During his first campaign at William Paterson, Miello led his team to a 5-5 overall record. The Pioneers finished the 2005 season with three consecutive victories, including a dramatic 20-19 win against No. 2 Rowan Nov. 5, a team that reached the semifinals of the 2005 NCAA Championship. Last fall, William Paterson showed tremendous resolve as the Pioneers played through a rash of injuries, particularly at the quarterback position. Two-thirds of WPU's 2006 losses were by a touchdown or less as the Pioneers played a schedule that featured three eventual NCAA Division III Playoffs participants.

“Under Mike Miello's leadership, our football team has truly become a football program,” said William Paterson director of intercollegiate athletics Sabrina Grant. “While his tenure at William Paterson University may have been relatively short, the improvements on and off the field have been substantial, and have laid a strong foundation to build upon. William Paterson football, and William Paterson Athletics as a whole, have benefited greatly from having Mike Miello on our staff.”

Prior to taking over the helm of the William Paterson program, Miello spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Rutgers University, helping to build the foundation for a nationally-ranked Scarlet Knight program. During his time in Piscataway, he worked side-by-side with head coach Greg Schiano, who played for Miello at Ramapo High School.

One of the legendary coaches in Garden State prep history, Miello built Ramapo and Hackensack into high school state championship contenders year after glorious year. Much of his success came at Ramapo, where he was the athletic director and architect of the Green Raiders' rise to statewide prominence from 1978-2000. In 23 seasons, they won four New Jersey state sectional championships and four Northern Bergen Interscholastic League titles.

Miello prepared his charges well, sending 148 of his players off to play in college. He coached Chris Simms, one of the top quarterbacks in New Jersey prep history who is currently a signal-caller for the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Another of his protégés was Justin O'Connor, who played in the 1994 Rose Bowl as a tight end at Penn State and finished his career at William Paterson before becoming an assistant coach with the Pioneers. Prior to his time at Ramapo, Miello guided Hackensack's program from 1970-75 after serving as an assistant in 1968 and 1969. During his head coaching stint, he led the Comets to the 1971 NNJIL and Group 4 state titles.

Miello's coaching career started at the University of Rhode Island in 1967, where he was a two-year starter at tight end from 1965-66. He then had a one-year stop at Columbia University as the running backs coach in 1969. Miello also broke down the game films of college prospects for the New York Giants from 1981-84.

Off the field, Miello's involvement in the community has been acknowledged with numerous accolades. He has been inducted into the New Jersey Football Coaches Association, New Jersey Interscholastic Coaches and Ramapo High School Halls of Fame. In addition, he was named the YMCA and UNICO ( Hackensack chapter) Person of the Year in 2004 and was the recipient of the President Gerald R. Ford Award from the All-American Football Foundation in 2003.