Miller remains hospitalized at Gadsden Medical Center after recovering from a successful double bypass operation Wednesday.
The coach, who founded the school and also serves as the school’s principal, boys and girls basketball and softball coach, underwent the procedure to repair what assistant principal and volleyball coach Scott Morgan described as a “main artery in his chest.”
“He’d been having pain for a while and the doctor’s had been pressuring him to get it done,” Morgan said. “He finally gave in and got it done.”
Larry Bollinger, the football coaching staff’s senior most assistant, will take over Miller’s on-field responsibilities. Other duties such as play calling will be split among JCA’s assistant coaches.
Morgan said Miller experienced some pain whenever he attempted to sit up, following the procedure.
He added that Miller will definitely miss the Thunder’s (1-2, 0-2 in region play) Week 5 non-region matchup on the road against Vina, but could return when region play reconvenes in Week 6 when they face Parkway Christian at home.
The Thunder started off the season with an impressive 40-12 win at home against Alabama School for the Deaf but have fallen in back-to-back weeks, losing 45-14 on the road against Appalachian and 21-18 at home against Donoho this past week.
Nick Birdsong covers prep sports for The Star. He can be reached at 235-3575. Follow him on Twitter at @birds_word.
