Miller Selected for CSC Academic All-America Hall of Fame Class of 2023
WALTHAM, Mass. – Rick Miller, a former Bentley University standout in the classroom and on the soccer pitch who has gone on to a successful career as a business executive and as an author, will be inducted into the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Hall of Fame on Tuesday, June 13 at the Marriott World Center in Orlando, Fla.
Miller, a member of Bentley's Class of 1980, will be joined in the Hall of Fame Class of 2023 by Andrew Cain (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology), a former Commanding Office of the USS Helena nuclear submarine; Kevin Warren (Grand Canyon University), President of the Chicago Bears and former commissioner of the Big Ten; and Lindsay Warren (Minnesota), a 2022 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
"It's humbling to be recognized with Lindsay (Whalen), Kevin (Warren), and Andrew (Cain) as we join such an accomplished and diverse group of individuals who've made such a positive impact in their chosen profession and in the community," said Miller.
"I'm also happy to be inducted as a representative of Bentley University," continued Miller. "I chose Bentley many years ago for the schools focus on business with liberal arts. Today, we are still committed to teaching students to be a force both at work and in society. I share this honor with many others who work hard to do both."
"Rick exemplifies everything great about the Bentley student-athlete," praised Vaughn Williams, Director of Athletics at Bentley. "Not only was he an amazing student, but an outstanding student-athlete as well. He went to reach the highest levels of achievement in his professional life, and I'm grateful that Rick will get to represent not only himself but what Bentley student-athletes are all about."
"It's difficult to imagine an individual more deserving of this honor," said Bentley President E. LaBrent Chrite. "Rick represents the very best of Bentley University. He was dedicated to his studies, tenacious on the soccer field, and continues to enjoy success in his professional endeavors while making time for significant community service. Moreover, Rick remains a generous and contributing member of the Bentley Community. Congratulations, Rick!"
Created in 1988, the Academic All-America Hall of Fame recognizes former Academic All-Americans who received a college degree at least 10 years ago, have achieved lifetime success in their professional careers, and are committed to philanthropic causes.
Miller will be the second Bentley alumnus to be enshrined as he joins former teammate Terry Carleton, who was part of the Class of 2014. Both were selected out of the honorary category as each of their playing careers predated Academic All-America teams being selected in the sport of men's soccer.
Since the Academic All-America program was created in 1952, approximately 40,000 student-athletes have earned the prestigious honor. With the induction of his year's class at a luncheon that will be hosted by ESPN's Holly Rowe, only 170 will have been honored with induction into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame.
As the late Dick Enberg, the longtime spokesman of the Academic All-America program, was fond of saying, they are the "crème-de-la-crème". During the ceremony, former women's basketball great Tamika Catchings will be presented with the Dick Enberg Award, which is presented annually to an individual who has distinguished themselves nationally through their career achievement and meaningful contributions to society while promoting the values of education and academics.
Miller, who now is an adjunct professor of leadership in Bentley's McCallum Graduate School of Business, is best known as a leadership expert and turnaround specialist, having served as a president at Nokia (Lucent), at start-up Opus360, and at AT&T as president of Global Services. He currently advises business leaders as CEO at Being Chief LLC. Many of his turnaround skills were developed at Bentley in the late 1970s.
Miller, a four-year starter in goal for the Falcons, was a force at Bentley from his arrival as a freshman in 1976, just five years after the program started. He began quickly both on and off the field, finishing his freshman year as a leader on the team with a 4.0 GPA.
A Marlboro native who now resides in Marblehead, Miller hit full stride in 1977 when Bentley allowed fewer goals than any other team in the country (all divisions). His remarkable 0.30 goals against average still stands today as the best in school history. Miller was named the team MVP and became the first Bentley sophomore named first team All-New England.
Then the walls came tumbling down. Just before his junior year, Miller's grandfather passed away and his mother's health declined rapidly. When back at school, a close friend passed away suddenly and Miller shut down. His performance suffered on and off the field. Although he dropped 20 pounds during the season, his diabetes wasn't diagnosed until after it was over. Bentley's Infirmary helped him with his comeback.
Miller returned for his senior year, having learned how to manage his new health challenge. He was selected as a team co-captain and finished his college career with a stellar 1.18 goals against average, a mark that still stands today as a school record. Once again, he received first team All-New England honors.
Miller was named to the Falcon Society, Bentley's highest undergraduate honor, and at graduation received the prestigious Edward J. Powers Award as the university's premier senior scholar-athlete. Seven years after graduation, Miller was named to Bentley's Athletic Hall of Fame. That same year he received an MBA degree from Columbia University.
His passion for turnarounds is also seen in the community. He has raised millions of dollars for the Joslin Diabetes Center. As an author, he sends all proceeds from his two leadership books to charity. Be Chief: It's a Choice, Not a Title proceeds support veterans at Easterseals and Casey's Kite proceeds support families with children undergoing cancer treatment at Family Reach.
Miller is also a hands-on volunteer. He founded the Balance and Stretch Center to support other non-profits and spent time each summer for 10 years volunteering at the Joslin/Barton Camp for children with diabetes.
Miller has taught business leadership at Syracuse University's Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) and has worked with physical therapists in a 90-degree heated pool to stretch the muscles of children with cerebral palsy at the Atlantic Health Rehabilitation Center in New Jersey.
Past inductees into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame in the honorary category have included President Gerald Ford, Supreme Court Chief Justice Byron "Whizzer" White, John Wooden, socialist and civic activist Harry Edwards, volleyball legend Karch Kiraly and Olympian John Naber.