In the lead up to the Super Bowl, one of the local radio stations interviewed Pittsburgh native, and wide receivers coach for the Arizona Cardinals, Mike Miller. As a career counselor, I’m always interested in how people get their start in a particular career. His story takes the cake.
The first thing that struck me was a background that seemed atypical. He didn’t play in the NFL. He didn’t play in college. And, according to him, he played only sparingly in high school before injuring his knee. But, beyond his lack of playing experience, the thing that I found most interesting was how he got his first big (or should I say lucky) break.
He applied for a coaching job at Robert Morris University. One of his references gave him a glowing review. He said he was very organized, great to be around—all of the things an employer would want to hear about someone they’re hoping to hire. He was offered the job. The only problem? His reference thought he was recommending Mike for a Sports Information Director opening, not a coaching position.
But, despite the initial confusion, he was able to get his foot in the door. He served as running backs coach at Robert Morris for two years and then continued paid his dues, moving up the ranks with the teams in the NFL and NFL Europe. This weekend, he’ll be leading arguably the best wide receiver tandem in the NFL in the Super Bowl.
Things obviously worked out for Mike, but things could have easily turned out differently. To avoid any confusion, as you apply for jobs make sure you clearly communicate with your references the specific roles for which you are applying.
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