It’s always difficult to step away from something that you started, but that’s what Killeen Miller was facing when she made the difficult decision to leave the Marblehead High volleyball program back in January after a successful 12-year run, citing family reasons.
After conducting the usual interviews for two-plus months, athletic director Kent Wheeler announced in an email on March 18 that Shelley Burns was named as Killeen’s successor.
“It was a really hard decision to step down, because I truly love the program that we’ve built here in Marblehead, and the athletes I’ve had to work with over the years,” said Miller. “Being the head coach of this program has been such a meaningful part of my life. I have a deep passion for coaching, and strongly believe in the impact that this sport can have on lifelong success. What we’ve built together is something that I’m incredibly proud of, but at the end of the day family is everything, and I knew it was time to create more space to be with my 9-year-old daughter. I want to be (around) for her (more often).”
Killeen admits that she won’t be staying away from it all the time. “Shelley is an amazing coach, but I’ll definitely be staying on to help her with anything she needs,” Miller said.
But it just won’t involve the grind of everyday practices that took her away from family responsibilities. By the same token, who’s better to help out the new coach with the program’s nuances than its founder, who had amassed a sensational 165–88 regular season record over the past 12 years.
Miller has seen the program evolve in so many ways. “Coming in, I didn’t really know what to expect. I was young, and had been coaching at the collegiate level for several years. But I did know that it would be a different experience,” she said. “I don’t think I fully understood how challenging it would be, but I still embraced it. Over the years, it pushed me to grow both as a coach and as a person, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”
But the longtime Marblehead coach knew none of this would have been possible without her players. “A lot of what we’ve accomplished comes down to the athletes,” Killeen said. “We’ve built a program with high expectations, and it took a certain level of commitment and drive (by the athletes) to compete on the varsity level,” she said.
Miller further explained that it was her “privilege to coach so many incredible young women over the years, who bought into the process, understood what it meant to be a part of a team and were willing to push themselves both mentally and physically (to achieve success).”
But she also didn’t want to forget her coaching staff that was primarily made up of women. “I strongly believe in the importance of female athletes being coached by women, and I’m proud to have worked alongside so many impactful coaches,” she said.
Miller’s favorite team ironically was her last one. Last fall’s edition of the Magicians ended up being the sixth seed in Division 2 after finishing with a 16-2 regular season record. They won twice more in the postseason against Woburn and Burlington, before losing to Longmeadow, the third seed, in an Elite 8 matchup, 3-1.
“To see what that group of athletes accomplished (last fall) by being fully committed was incredible,” Miller said. “From our senior leadership to a driven and dedicated junior class, everything just came together. It was just one of those seasons, where showing up to the gym every day was genuinely exciting. They wanted to improve, and as a result were eager to learn. They pushed themselves and each other to a higher level. It made the entire experience incredibly rewarding.”
Miller’s all-time MHS volleyball team
Killeen had plenty to choose from, but here is her best of the best from the last 12 years position by position:
Liberos: Megan Parkman, Sydney Faris (currently a junior)
Outside Hitters: Lila Moniz (a junior) Keira Sweetnam
Setters: Eva Burke, Isabel Curtin
Middies: Greta Sachs, Lizzie Myers, Lila Thompson
Right side: Anna Arbo, Emma Bushman
