That behind-the-scenes experience sparked something lasting.

 

"It was the first time I realized I could contribute to athletics in a different way," Miller shared. "I learned how to tell stories, how to serve a team, and how important it is to build meaningful and lasting relationships."

 

Miller cherishes his memories with the team and still feels a deep sense of pride when his 2006-2007 Varsity Boys Basketball team was inducted into the Loyola Academy Hall of Fame in 2022.

The lessons he learned carried Miller from Loyola Academy to Boston College, where he pursued a degree in communications in one of the country's most vibrant sports cities. Over the next decade, his career took off—from working with the New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, and the Boston Marathon to leading communications for the Columbus Crew at just 25 years old.

After 15 years in professional sports, Miller felt a familiar tug—one he recognized from his Loyola days—to give back.

That calling led him to The Ohio State University, where he now teaches sports media relations within the School of Communication, while also consulting for teams and leagues across the country. In the classroom, Miller draws deeply from his Loyola and Jesuit educational roots, grounding course material in reflection, vulnerability, and real-world experience.

That approach resonated immediately with one student in particular.

"When I got to Ohio State, I had no idea what I wanted to major in," said Izzie Schario '23, a Loyola Academy alumna who enrolled in Miller's sports media relations course as a sophomore. "But because I went to Loyola and had that immersion in a culture for others, I knew I wanted a career where I felt I could make a difference beyond just myself."

From the first day of class, the connection was clear.

"It was obvious that Tim came from a Jesuit background—and that we shared a Rambler connection," Schario recalled. "From his manner of teaching to him shouting out his first media relations job with the Loyola basketball team within the first minutes of class."

Miller quickly distinguished himself by the personal approach he took to teaching, often sharing examples not just from his professional career but also from his own setbacks and frustrations.

 

"For undergrads who feel like they need to figure out their entire life instantly, that felt refreshing," Schario said. "He constantly sourced material from his own life, which made everything feel more human and attainable."

That sense of care extended well beyond the syllabus. Miller became a mentor—someone who helped students recognize their strengths and encouraged them to take ownership of what made them unique.

"I knew my skills, but I didn’t have confidence in applying them," Schario said. "Tim constantly encouraged us to reflect on our capabilities and be proud of them. He taught us to leverage what makes us different."

Schario saw Loyola's influence clearly reflected in Miller's pedagogy.

"He encouraged reflection, vulnerability, and always emphasized the bigger picture—why the work matters, and how we can go out into the world and impact others," she said. "He constantly emphasized the 'why' behind everything."

As a result, Schario experienced growth she hadn't anticipated.

"I grew more in that class than I ever had before," she said. "It reshaped how I saw myself as a student and as a future professional. Even more so, my understanding of what it means to be a woman for others grew because Tim exemplified that in countless ways. I saw that Jesuit values did not end within the walls of Loyola."

Miller's support continued well beyond the classroom. He provided guidance early on and long after the course—offering encouragement, feedback, and confidence at pivotal moments.

"Tim didn't have to go beyond his basic responsibilities as a lecturer, but he simply did," Schario said."Being a man for others is simple for him."

That mentorship helped Schario pursue and secure her current internship with Ohio State Athletics, where she works in the communications department, assisting with game-day and media operations and writing pre- and post-event releases.

"I gained practical exposure to the goals and day-to-day work of sports communications professionals through Tim’s class," she said. "I wouldn’t have found this role—or had the confidence to go for it—without his support."

For Miller, moments like this are the heart of his work.

"There are so many people connected to Loyola who took a chance on me—who listened, encouraged, or made an introduction," he said. "I wouldn’t be here without that. Now, if I can be that person for someone else, I'm simply opening doors the way they were opened for me."

Schario sees that continuity as a gift.

"I'm so thankful I took that class with Tim," she said. "It reminded me of who I am, where I came from, and what a gift an education from Loyola was. Staying connected to the Rambler community that shaped me—through Tim—is something I’m eternally grateful for."

Miller's advice to fellow alumni is simple, but powerful: don't underestimate the impact of being present.

"Giving back doesn't always mean having all the answers," he reflected. "Sometimes it's just listening, helping someone discern their next step, and reminding them that they have the power to write their story."

It's a message rooted in Loyola's mission—being a woman and man for others—and one that continues to echo far beyond Lake and Laramie, from the sidelines to the classroom, and into the lives of the next generation of Ramblers.