July 22, 1998

Cal graduate assistant football coach Doug Miller was killed by lightning in a freak accident during a camping trip in Colorado last night. Miller was set to begin his first season with the Bears as a graduate assistant, helping coach Cal's linebackers. Head coach Tom Holmoe learned of the death this morning and expressed his condolences to Miller's family.

"Doug was a very intelligent person with a bright future as a coach," said Holmoe. "He was popular among our players and he really worked hard as a defensive assistant. Our hearts go out to his family and they have our best wishes during this tragedy."

Miller is a former two-time All-America linebacker at South Dakota State. After graduation, he played for the San Diego Chargers from 1993-95 and participated in Super Bowl XXIX. He began his coaching career in 1996 at Southeast Missouri State and then came to Cal as a graduate assistant strength coach in the fall of '97. He spent this past spring working with the Cal football staff. He was pursuing a master's degree in education at Cal.