Lansing United names new coach, general manager

EAST LANSING — A new era is officially underway for Lansing United.

Less than a month after announcing Eric Rudland stepped down as the head coach and general manager to take the helm at AFC Ann Arbor, the amateur club announced Wednesday that Spring Arbor University men's soccer coach Nathan Miller will fill both roles.

Miller, who is in the midst of his third season with the Cougars, led his team to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national tournament in his first two years. He will be the second coach in United's short history.

"I am extremely honored and grateful to be given the opportunity to join the Lansing United family," Miller said in the team's press release. "The club is heading in a very exciting direction, and I am excited to help lead this growing and passionate soccer community."

The former Taylor University (Upland, Indiana) soccer standout takes over a team that has compiled a 16-7-6 record and won a Midwest Region title in its first two National Premier Soccer League seasons.

Prior to joining Spring Arbor, Miller was an assistant coach at his alma mater and coached the 1998 Michigan Boys Olympic Development Program and the Jackson Rush under-15 teams.

"We are so excited to have Nate Miller as a part of the Lansing United family," team owner Jeremy Sampson said in the same release. "As I went through the process, it was clear that he was the person I wanted to lead the club in 2016 and beyond.

"In getting to know Nate, he embodies the 'Pride, Passion and Unity' that Lansing United is known for. Nate is well organized and knows what it takes to lead a program having been a head coach in the state for three seasons. That also means he has his finger on the pulse of all of the outstanding players that we have in the state of Michigan."

Contact James L. Edwards III at jledwards@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @JLEdwardsIII.