Dr. Beth Miller spent more than 40 years working as part of the UNC Department of Athletics, and during that time she was part of thousands of gatherings in Carmichael Arena, whether cheering at games, coaching at practices, meeting with coaches or mentoring student-athletes.
Sunday morning, she was a central figure in another gathering at Carmichael, this one convened in her honor. With current and former Carolina head coaches, department staff past and present, and all four UNC directors of athletics for whom she worked looking on, the newly-renovated Carmichael Arena lobby was officially christened as the Dr. Beth Miller Lobby.
“I never dreamed I would have anything named after me,” Miller told the crowd, then conceded that if something were to be named after her, the Carmichael lobby makes perfect sense. “My office was in this building for 30 years,” she said. “I walked through these doors for 30 years. I walked through this actual lobby who knows how many times. So this is all very, very special to me.
“Maybe the most special thing about it is that this is where I got to do what I loved. I got to meet with student-athletes and coaches and see so many events in the arena, probably thousands of events.”
Among the many roles she held during her four decades at UNC, Miller was Senior Woman Administrator, business manager and the head coach for both softball and volleyball.
Donna Gutterman was one of the volleyball student-athletes Miller coached, and the lasting impact of that connection led Gutterman to spearhead the lobby dedication. From her coach, Gutterman learned the value of preparedness, teamwork and innovation, lessons that have stayed with her since and continue to impact her today. She related to the crowd two stories rooted in volleyball, but with broader lasting lessons, which is exactly the mark Miller always hoped to make.
“As coaches and administrators, the wins and championships are very important,” Miller said. “Thankfully Tar Heels have had lots of them and have a lot more to go. But when Donna told me she wanted to honor me because of the life lessons she learned and the impact I had on her life that carried on after volleyball, that was emotional and humbling for me, and it’s without a doubt the most important thing we hope to do in athletics.”
Signage in the Carmichael lobby – the Dr. Beth Miller Lobby – now stands testament to all Miller did during her time at Carolina. The 40 years she was at UNC were times of epic change and growth in athletics, but she remained a constant, with Sunday’s tributes and toasts providing just a glimpse of her impact.
“At Carolina, we believe in the power of sport to lift women, influence our community and connect us together,” said Senior Associate Athletic Director Martina Ballen, who was among many in the crowd wearing t-shirts in Miller’s honor. “We can confidently say no one has embodied this spirit more than Dr. Beth Miller.”
And appropriately, the Carmichael lobby will now honor that spirit forever.
Written by UNC athletics
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