Stratford football players release balloons to honor coach who died of cancer

BERKELEY COUNTY, SC (WCSC) - Stratford football players past and present, paused to honor former defensive coach Doug Miller, who died February 7, 2015, after a long battle with cancer.

Miller, who served as the team's defensive coach, also taught for 39 years before retiring in 2013.

According to his obituary, his family held a private service, but many of his former players created an opportunity to honor him at the place they knew him best.

More than a dozen Knights met at Ray Stackley Field Saturday morning, writing personal messages for Miller on golden balloons, before releasing them into the wind.

Recent graduate Michael Simmons, a former Knights safety, organized the event.

"We had coach Stackley, Coach Marion, Coach Sheppard, but Coach Miller was one of the best coaches I could possibly say I ever had," Simmons said.

"I hope he's still watching over me when I go off to play."

Doug Miller was 62 at the time of his death. He leaves behind a wife and daughter.

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