November 17, 2007
Wolverine Stadium to be Re-Named for Outgoing President Scott D. Miller
DOVER, DE - In recognition of outgoing President Scott D. Miller's "unstinting devotion to supporting scholar-athletes and enhancing all intercollegiate sports and recreational programs and facilities at the College," Wolverine Stadium at Wesley College in Dover will be re-dedicated the "Scott D. Miller Stadium," according to Charles "Chip" R. Dashiell, Jr., Chair of the Board of Trustees.
The naming will take place in a ceremony at halftime of Saturday's first round NCAA Division III football game between Wesley and Hampden-Sydney College.
Dr. Miller announced in October that following a decade of transformative growth and progress, he will leave to become president of Bethany College in West Virginia effective January 1, 2008.
"The mark of a great leader is that the institution he leaves behind will continue to grow and prosper. And that will be the case with Wesley College," said Mr. Dashiell, who has worked closely with Miller since his arrival on campus in 1997.
An "unparalleled work ethic," is one of President Miller's hallmarks, says Mike Drass, a member of the President's staff who has worked very closely with him for his entire 10-year tenure at Wesley. Drass, executive director of intercollegiate sports and recreation, says that Dr. Miller's dedication to the College "inspires others to do the same."
"He'll be sorely missed; we all owe him a huge debt of gratitude. Wesley College today is flourishing because of what he has done. He's taken us through some tough times to great times."
During Miller's tenure, seven varsity teams have been established, the men's golf team has gone undefeated in the conference (the past 10 years) and the football team has gone to the NCAA Division III playoffs during the last three consecutive seasons, finishing 3rd in the nation in 2005 and 2006. Golfer Chris Noll won an individual national championship in 2003 and football standout Rocky Myers won the Gagliardi Trophy as the top player in the country in 2004. This fall, the College began competition in the selective Capital Athletic Conference (CAC), whose members include local rival Salisbury University.
Wolverine Stadium includes the field that serves as the home for football, men's and women's lacrosse and men's and women's soccer, and also Reed Field-home of the baseball team. The main part of the stadium was enlarged and refurbished in 2004, with a total of 3,500 seats, artificial turf, lighting, a digital scoreboard, walkways, expanded concessions and a new press box with observation deck and president's box/suite. In addition, Reed Field of Wolverine Stadium has been enhanced and upgraded under Miller's leadership to include stands to seat 400, a press box, "minor league" style fencing, irrigation system, enlarged scoreboard, bullpens and a batting cage. All of the improvements are part of the $40 million in facilities projects funded as part of the $67 "Campaign for Wesley."
The Stadium has been the site for numerous NCAA and ECAC playoff contests as well as a popular venue for Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournaments for men's and women's soccer and lacrosse.
A number of other athletic upgrades have occurred during the Miller presidency including construction of the Wesley West Fieldhouse, DuPont Tennis Courts, Wellness/Fitness Center in Malmberg Hall, and renovation of the Wentworth Gymnasium and Beiser Natatorium.
A former prep and college standout athlete, Miller avidly supported Wesley athletic contests with his attendance, relishing increasing alumni attendance at the stadium on fall football weekends. Both Miller daughters, Katie, 23, and Ashlee, 20, were athletic standouts at Caesar Rodney High School-and Katie went on to achieve top soccer honors at Goucher College in Maryland before graduating in 2007.
"Athletics have always been a big part of my life and that of my family," Miller said. "Wesley's strong intercollegiate sports tradition and its scholar-athletes are a very important part of the institution, and they will continue to be so."
"I am greatly moved at this honor, and it is immensely satisfying to know that a place where my family, colleagues and I have spent so many pleasurable moments now bears my name. It's something that's going to take some getting used to."
Release run with permission from Wesley College.