SF women's athletics pioneer and mentor dies
February 23, 2026
Photo: Sandy Miller, left, and Laura Johnson
Sandy Miller who was Santa Fe College’s first coach of women’s basketball and a long-time mentor to athletics and leadership died February 16, 2026.
Miller began her career at Santa Fe College in 1971 as an instructor and later talked Athletic Director Stan Mitchell into adding women's sports, specifically basketball.
Coach Miller led the very first National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) sanctioned team at Santa Fe College during the 1979-80 season. During her leadership the first two years the team was 32-6 and earned multiple honors including state runner up. During the 1980-81 season the team won the Mid Florida Conference Title and went on to lay the foundation for the 1981-82 season led by Coach Paula Edney, who went 27-5, won the conference and state title and finished ninth in the nation.
"Coach Miller's influence has left a permanent mark on my life,” said Laura Johnson, a star under both Miller and Edney. “Because of her care, guidance, and unwavering belief in her players, I grew not only as athlete but as a person. For a small-town girl with big dreams, she inspired me to never let good be good enough."
Miller’s career at Santa Fe College included teaching courses for the physical education department as well as in the college success area for new students as coordinator for women's sports. She did these duties in addition to coaching.
As times changed at SF in the 1980s and across college sports, Miller wore many official and unofficial hats such as assistant softball coach for the slow pitch softball team, (fast pitch softball didn't exist then) and faculty advisor for club volleyball. Santa Fe College would later add volleyball as an official NJCAA sport in 2014. She served the Florida community college system (now called the Florida College System Activities Association) as the Women's Basketball Chair for multiple years and was the NJCAA Assistant Region Director during the 1980s.
Miller retired in the 1992 and continued to champion women's sports including basketball. She supported many coaches including former coach turned Athletic Director, Chanda Stebbins.
"Her guidance during my journey has been instrumental in our success,” Stebbins said. “She was so excited for the opportunities that have come about for women in administration as well as female athletes. I emphasized Sunday at the Sports More program that mentorship is essential for young professionals looking to grow – and she was one of those who mentored me. I am proud to have called her friend and learned so much from her.”
Miller was a devoted friend and mentor to many, including former Saints players. She graduated from Boca Ciega High School and earned her associate's degree from St. Petersburg College. Miller also earned a bachelor's degree from the University of South Florida in 1964 and a Master's of Education from the University of Georgia in 1970.
Miller was inducted into the FCSAA Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Santa Fe College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.
Further, the FCSAA's mental attitude award for women's basketball is named for Miller. Each year this award winner is chosen from all the Florida College System teams' nominees and given to the women's basketball student-athlete in the FCSAA who best exemplifies strong academic and athletic performance paired with a community service commitment to impact.
"Sandy was a wonderful friend and mentor. She invested her life in her church, in Santa Fe, and in the Gainesville community. She will be missed beyond measure," Edney, former coach, said.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Forest Meadows Funeral Home, 725 NW 23rd Avenue, on Tuesday, February 24 at 11 a.m. with internment to follow at Forest Meadows Central, 4100 NW 39th Avenue.
he Celebration of Life is aptly named as this would have been Millers's 85th birthday. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Santa Fe College Athletics in her memory via the Santa Fe College Foundation at 3000 NW 83rd ST, Gainesville, Florida, 32606 or Santa Fe College Foundation.
