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with the place, I didn’t want to leave. I think it was also a comfort thing, I felt good there,” he says. Most of all, he credits his parents, nine brothers, and two sisters for their unwavering support during his time at Forman. “Without Forman, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he says. “I know people say that, but I honestly believe if it wasn’t for Forman, I would never have graduated high school, and I would have never graduated college. I would never have achieved what I have in lacrosse if it wasn’t for Forman.” Blake went on to Nassau Junior College before fulfilling his dream of playing Division I lacrosse. “I went to Hofstra University for two years, and it was a great experience,” he says. “I got to play against teams like Johns Hopkins University, those powerhouses I read about when I was a kid. It was my dream come true. And I thought that was going to be the end of my lacrosse career.” However, his lacrosse career was far from over. Blake played in the National Lacrosse League, was a twotime member of the US National Team, and played professionally for the Bridgeport Barrage, Philadelphia Barrage, Long Island Lizards, and Chesapeake Bayhawks. He coached high school lacrosse programs to victories, including serving as the boys’ lacrosse offensive coordinator at New York’s Manhasset High School for nearly ten years. At Hofstra, Blake met Joe Amplo, current head lacrosse coach at the United States Naval Academy;
Amplo was a senior when Blake was a freshman. They kept in touch in recent years and in 2021, it was Amplo who offered Blake the opportunity to join his team. “From the moment I met Blake in 1995 as a college freshman, I was impressed by his captivating presence and work ethic,” says Amplo. “When the position opened, he was the first person I thought of. He’s developed terrific relationships with our players, he’s really focused on the player-development model, helping guys individually, and learning to be a college coach. He’s made a huge difference with our players individually and we’re excited to see how they transform into the players we want them to be on the field through his tutelage.” It was a hard decision for Blake, knowing how it would affect his wife, Allison, and their children, Blake and Avery, but it was one he knew he had to make. After accepting the position, he and his family moved from Manhasset, NY, to Annapolis, MD, within one month. “I felt like if I didn’t do this, I would regret it for the rest of my life,” he says. “It was tough, but I’ve always wanted to coach college lacrosse, and this was my opportunity. I give my wife credit for going along with it. Without her, I can’t imagine my life.” Since starting his new role in September, Blake has worked hard alongside fellow coaches Joe Amplo, John Orsen, and Brad Ross. “It’s not a job; it’s something I love,” he notes. “When I need to break down films
P R O F I L E
Blake Miller ’92 with wife, Allison, daughter, Avery, and son, Blake
for lacrosse, I have to look at it a different way than another coach would because my brain works differently,” he adds. “I’m at the Naval Academy, one of the smartest schools in the country, but I still learn in a different way. I maybe have to prepare longer than others do, but it sticks with me that I have the confidence that I can do it, but it might just take a little more time.” Both of Blake’s children play hockey and lacrosse, and he has coached his son in lacrosse for several years. His goal is for them to play and have fun, a lesson his own parents and coaches taught him growing up. He says the support from his family and lessons learned at Forman encourage him to continue following his dreams. “You don’t know where life is going to take you. It’s where you come out on the other end that matters. I try to live my life like that,” Blake says. “I look back now at my time at Forman and I can’t believe where I am.”
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