KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan University athletics community joins the Miller family in mourning the loss of Elizabeth "Liz" (Mayer) Miller.

Inducted into the Western Michigan Hall of Fame in 1994, Liz Miller was a two-sport athlete for the Broncos before becoming a trailblazer in women's sports for several decades in both the state of Michigan and Indiana. Miller passed away peacefully in her home on December 5, 2025. Miller played both field hockey and volleyball for WMU from 1966 to 1969 during her four years on campus. While an undergraduate student, Miller was the president of the Women's Recreation Association.

After graduating from Western Michigan with both her bachelor's and master's degrees in 1971, Miller went on to start and coach the first women's program in basketball, softball, track, and volleyball at Galien (Mich.) High School, while also teaching physical education classes. Miller only stayed at Galien for two years before being hired by Lake Michigan College to start their women's athletic program in 1973.

At Lake Michigan College, Miller coached the basketball, softball, and volleyball teams. While coaching, Miller coached ten LMC teams to top seven national junior college tournament finishes and compiled a 1,047-331 record over 15 years. In 1978, Miller was named the Athletic Director at Lake Michigan College, becoming the first woman AD in the state of Michigan.

In particular, Miller excelled at coaching softball. While at LMC, Miller's softball teams became national powerhouses with a 541-143 record (.792 winning percentage), the second-highest total in NJCAA history at the time. Miller earned NJCAA Region XII Softball Coach of the Year honors 10 times from 1980-1990.  In 1987, Miller and her husband Lloyd were awarded the Bernard C. Radde Distinguished Service Award for advancing the cause of Lake Michigan College and higher education.

Miller left LMC in 1993 to become the Head Softball Coach at Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. While leading the Fighting Irish, Miller led the team to nine conference regular-season titles, earned five conference coach-of-the-year awards, and compiled a 376-156 (.707) record. While at Notre Dame, the Irish won over 30 games every season during her tenure and made six NCAA Championship appearances. During her time with the Irish, Miller was inducted into the WMU Hall of Fame in 1994 for her contributions to women's athletics. She was then inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005, only four years after retiring from coaching.

Miller is survived by her daughter Jennifer (Lonnie) Hoover, of Buchanan, Michigan; son Jeremy (Jill) Miller, of Spring Lake, Michigan, and her four grandchildren Jacob Hoover, Matthew Hoover, Ellie Miller, and Emma Miller as well as her sister Louise (Larry) Miller of Greensboro, North Carolina and brothers Lynn (Jo) Mayer, John (Janet) Mayer, James (Martha) Mayer and Stan Mayer. Miller's grandson Matt Hoover currently plays baseball for the Broncos.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 19, 2025, and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. December 20, 2025, at the Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend, Indiana, with funeral services to follow at 1:00 pm at the funeral home.