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USF Cross Country Coach Resigns

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 13, 2008

TAMPA University of South Florida cross country coach Melissa Miller resigned Tuesday, the same day the school self-reported two secondary NCAA violations in Miller's program.

According to documents sent to the NCAA, Miller recruited distance runner Adam Hortian to the track team with the offer of "highly recommending" him for a 2008-09 graduate assistant coaching position that did not exist. Also, Hortian illegally ran for USF during the outdoor season after accepting prize money at a February road race in St. Petersburg.

The school's investigation was prompted by inquires from a Tampa Tribune reporter.

Hortian said he transferred from Iona to USF with one year of eligibility remaining because he was promised the GA position.

Hortian received a letter on May 30, 2007, signed by head track coach Warren Bye and Miller stating they would "highly recommend" him for the position and describing a job that offered a "full-time graduate tuition waiver and $15,000 annual stipend."

Miller sent both documents to Hortian without Bye's knowledge and forged Bye's signature, USF assistant AD Chris Freet said.

On Feb. 23, Hortian won the Suncoast Classic's 10K race and collected $600 by having the check made out to someone else. Hortian said he knew he was breaking NCAA rules by accepting the prize money, but did so with Miller's knowledge.

"I had to pay the rent," said Hortian, who was on a partial scholarship at USF.

Miller said she "knew nothing" about Hortian accepting the money. However, she told the Tampa Tribune last week that Hortian told her of a way he could accept the prize money in another person's name.

"He had an idea to race and have the prize money in someone else's name," Miller said.

Miller did not notify USF's compliance office of Hortian's plan. She spoke to Hortian after the race and knew he won, but did not know he accepted the money.

Competing for USF this spring, Hortian ran in four meets between March 21 and April 19.

Miller came to USF in 2006 after a one-year stint as an assistant at Division II Saginaw Valley State.

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

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