Riders’ Miller stepping down after season

REGINA _ Ken Miller will step down as the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ head coach and vice-president of football operations after the 2011 CFL season.

The Roughriders, whose 5-12 slate ties them with the Toronto Argonauts for the league’s worst record, made the announcement before Monday’s practice. Miller was expected to discuss his situation after practice.

Miller, 70, joined the Roughriders in 2007 as offensive co-ordinator. The Roughriders capped that season by winning the third Grey Cup in franchise history.

Kent Austin resigned as head coach in January 2008 to become the offensive co-ordinator at his alma mater, the University of Mississippi. He was succeeded by Miller, who went on to become a coach-of-the-year finalist for three consecutive seasons _ including 2009 and 2010, during which the Roughriders suffered heartbreaking Grey Cup losses to the Montreal Alouettes.

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Miller assumed the dual role of head coach and vice-president of football operations in January 2010, following the resignation of general manager Eric Tillman. Following the 2010 season, Miller stepped down as head coach to concentrate on his administrative role.

In that capacity, Miller‘s first major decision involved the hiring of a head coach. He selected Greg Marshall, who was fired and succeeded by Miller on Aug. 19, after the Roughriders’ record had dropped to 1-7.

The Roughriders won their first three games of Miller‘s second stint as head coach, only to lose the next five and disappear from the playoff picture for the first time since 2001. The Roughriders are coming off Saturday’s 19-3 home-field victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Miller‘s final game as Saskatchewan’s head coach will be Friday night’s road date with the Edmonton Eskimos. Miller has one full season remaining on his contract.

Miller has a 36-26-1 regular-season record as the Roughriders’ head coach. In 2009, he guided Saskatchewan to first place in the West Division for the first time since 1976.

Before joining the Roughriders, Miller spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Argonauts, helping them win the Grey Cup in 2004. Previously, he had coached university and high school football in Southern California.