John Miech enters his third season as an assistant football coach at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He begins his second season coaching the team's linebackers after mentoring the wide receivers in 2012.
Miech joined the Warhawks' football staff following a long career as head coach at UW-Stevens Point.
Miech played his college football at UW-SP where, as an offensive lineman, he helped protect for the nation's top passing offense in 1973 and 1974. After earning his bachelor's degree in business and economics in 1975, Miech began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Stephen F. Austin State University (Texas), where he earned a master's degree in health and physical education in 1979.
He returned to Wisconsin in 1979 for separate three-year stints as a high school coach at Whitnall High School and Jefferson High before returning to Stevens Point as the Pointers' defensive coordinator in 1985. During his first three years, Miech's defense led the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in yards allowed per game and yards allowed per play.
Miech took over the head coaching role in 1988 and amassed a 156-83-2 overall record, including a 107-64-1 conference mark, in 24 seasons, retiring after the 2011 season. His 156 wins are fourth all-time in the WIAC. Miech directed the Pointers to the WIAC title four times, was named WIAC Coach of the Year in 1998, 2001 and 2008, and led the team to three NCAA Playoffs appearances (1999, 2001, 2008), including one national championship game. He coached 22 All-Americans, 124 first team all-league selections and six WIAC Player of the Year honorees.
A Muskego, Wis., native, Miech was inducted into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005.
