Q&A With Kirkwood CC Commit: '16 Austin Miller, RHP, Iowa City West

February 1, 2016

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Iowa

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Name: Austin Miller
Position: SS
Class: 2016
Height/Weight: 6-foot-6, 190-pounds
High School: Iowa City West
PBR Rank: #35 in IA 2016 Class

PBR: Why did you choose Kirkwood CC?
MILLER: I choose to go to Kirkwood Community College for the facilities, the way the school treats their athletes, the coaches, the players that are committed in my class, and what the coaches told me I could get from attending Kirkwood, and what they could do to make me a better ball player.

PBR: What other schools were you considering?
MILLER: I was considering Rend Lake Community College, Southeastern Community College, Iowa Central Community College, Loras, Upper Iowa University, and Coe College.

PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?
MILLER: Coach Benich contacted me after state and sent me a few emails and asked for me to come up to Kirkwood for a visit. Coach Rima saw me pitch a couple times against his Cedar Rapids Prairie team in the summer. Right after my visit I knew Kirkwood was going to be the best fit for me. The team and coaching staff at Kirkwood seem to be one big family, and not just a team.

PBR: Do you feel relieved now that the process is over and you can just focus on baseball and not deal with everything that goes into picking a school?
MILLER: I feel so much better about having a school to call home after high school and not having to think about all of the recruiters in the stands my senior year. I can go out and just focus on the task at hand every night.

PBR: Was there one deciding factor that put your choice over the top?
MILLER: There were actually two deciding factors in my decision process. The first factor was, are the coaches easy to get along with and what can they do to get me to the next level. The second factor was, how were the academics at the college and what do the coaches or the college itself do to help student athletes preform like they should in the classroom. I got the answer to both of these questions on my visit, and they were exactly what I wanted to hear.

PBR: Who has helped you the most to get to where you are today?
MILLER: I have had countless mentors and helpers along the way to guide me to where I am today. It is hard to pick just one person that has helped me get to where I am today. If I had to pick just one person, I would have to say Jim Van Scoyoc. He has coached me for two years, and the things he has taught me in two years is incredible. He has not only taught me how to play the game of baseball better, but how to become a better person, and play the game of life better. The people that he has introduced to me and all the doors he has opened for me is beyond my wildest dreams. I have to thank Jim, and everyone he has introduced to me for where I am today.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it easy/difficult?
MILLER: I did not know what to expect during the recruiting process. I thought it was going pretty slow at first, I was expecting to see a lot more letters in the mail or phone calls, but I only had a couple during my Junior season, and none of them were for visits. They would just say they were interested. About 1 week after state; the letters started to come about 2 every day saying we would like you to come on a visit. I thought the process was easy; the toughest thing about it was having to wait for emails and letters. You just have to have a little patience and the recruiting process will be painless and easy.

PBR: What plans does the coaching staff have in store for you in your freshman season?
MILLER: The coaches have already pointed some things out about my delivery and pitching mechanics in general that they are going to try and fix for my freshman season. The strength and conditioning program at Kirkwood is catered towards the position and individual at hand to get the most out of the athlete as possible.

PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?
MILLER: My most memorable baseball moment was when I took the mound my Junior season at the state tournament. It gives me chills still thinking about it.

PBR: Who is the best player that you have competed against?
MILLER: Sammy Lizarraga from Cedar Rapids Kennedy who is currently at Iowa.

Q&A With Kirkwood CC Commit: '16 Austin Miller, RHP, Iowa City West

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