Transforming lives for a brighter world.

That is Capital University's mission statement and All-American thrower Josh Miller (Botkins, Ohio) is the living embodiment of that mantra. Many know Josh today as someone that looks like Gaston from the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast, but acts with the humility of the polished Prince Adam. (He also gets the girl in the end … stay tuned.) But Josh would argue he may have been more like the Beast at the beginning of his career and would have stayed that way if not for a few pivotal moments along the way.

As a dominant thrower for Botkins High School he was pursued by Capital while he sought opportunities at larger schools. Capital Head Track & Field Coach Hannah Weiss' vigorous pursuit drew him to choosing the Purple and White.

He quickly became a leader on campus, within his fraternity, was heavily involved in volunteering in different areas, and also trying to be a good student, athlete and boyfriend amongst it all.

"I was … dealing with a lot of changing opinions, mentalities, and outlooks … I changed my major after my freshman year, there was so much," said Miller. "I look back and think 'holy cow', those first two years at Capital were unbelievable. My first two years at Capital, people would say that I was focused and had my head on my shoulders, but that is bull crap. I was so scattered and so spaced out everywhere that there was no way I was focused."

He had a respectable first year, however, at the 2018 Ohio Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships Miller missed the cut for an event final for the first time in his life. It did not sit well.

"I missed finals and I ripped my jersey; I ripped my Capital jersey and it's still hanging in the locker room," joked Miller. With a more serious tone, he continued, "that is the moment everything changed for me as far as focus here in college because I relied that I had put this aside, I had put what I had worked for six years up to that point (aside). It was that focus and that killer mentality that I have now going into every single practice, going into every single competition that I was lacking, that I was missing. So that was my coming back moment."

As a sophomore, a knee injury sidelined Josh for the beginning portion of the 2019 indoor season. Even under instruction from Head Athletic Trainer Matt Smith to throw at 70 percent of his ability in order to ease back into competition, he finished second in the shot put his first meet back, at home in the Jessica Starks Open.
 
Miller continued to set personal records in nearly every remaining meet during the indoor season leading into that year's championships. His ego began to match his throwing progress, rising to a point that it was intolerable by then-coach Keith Rucker. Rucker laid it out plain after one practice in which Miller's attitude did not meet his expectations. Rucker stated, "I will not coach you," and walked away.

"That was the first time any coach had ever looked at me and said that. A lot of coaches in the past had praised me for being coachable and at that moment, Coach Rucker said 'no, you're not. You need to mature. You need to grow up.' It had a big effect (on me)."

A switch had been flipped and the gears started churning, which began Miller's complete transformation. He placed on the podium 14 times and had eight event wins between the 2019 indoor and outdoor seasons. Miller was the runner-up in the indoor shot put, OAC champion on the outdoor circuit and qualified for that year's indoor and outdoor nationals.

If you thought he was focused, determined, and committed based on accolades alone, you'd be wrong. A true straight shooter, he called that assessment "BS". Josh admits that year three is was the true transformation year, especially in his athletics.

The turning point came that summer when it all finally came together. Miller credits his then-girlfriend, Allison, for not only bearing with him but also grounding him both in his life pursuits and in his faith. His relationship with Allison and God flourished. He was working a landscaping job nearly 60-70 hours per week and maintained his intense training. Miller admits that this is when he became more intentional, focused and committed to capturing a national championship.

"If you are not 100 percent committed, you are not committed at all," says Miller.

Every step along the way to achieving that goal had a purpose be it a rep in the weight room, a throw in the ring, a decision to devote time toward an activity … it all has purpose. That process and mindset nearly manifested into a national title at the 2020 NCAA Division III National Championships in Winston-Salem, N.C., but the situation surrounding COVID-19 started escalating rapidly just before the competition began, leading to its cancellation along with all other winter championships and spring sports.

Consider that one more detrimental moment in which Miller faced a crossroad. Instead of sulking in self-loathing with no title and no spring season, he started training again … and made an Instagram post letting the NCAA know that they were going to fear what this will create.
 
"It's going to be true, I don't care who's in the ring. I will bring that championship back to Capital with the one opportunity because I am working too hard, I am too dedicated, I am too focused. I am lasered in every single training session for one reason and one reason only and that's to bring this (championship) back here," said a spirited Miller.

In the weeks following, Miller was named an All-American after qualifying for and seeding fifth overall at nationals to join a host of other accolades collected along the way including two OAC event championships, OAC Field Athletic of the Year, and USTFCCCA Regional Athlete of the Year.  

  The shot put was not the only rock he tossed around this past summer. The Beast – sorry, Prince Adam – put a ring on it, announcing his engagement to his long-time girlfriend, Allison. The public relations major is back on campus launching the shot put and the rest of his life. He continues to spend significant time with his philanthropic endeavors; he is at the head of The Kaufman Project, a venture connected to the highest-level public relations class on campus that granted him access to introduce Capital University Interim President Dave Kaufman during an exclusive interview; and all while never stopping his fierce training regimen.

Now, Miller has his sights set on a degree, a national championship, an exchange of wedding vows, and at some point a date to ring the Victory Bell.