William Floyd has never been known as a lacrosse school, but Matt Miller helped change the sport culture in Mastic and Shirley.

His class was the first to take the boys lacrosse team to the playoffs, after losing more than 20 games as a freshman.

"To have the guys rally around and be a part of something like that was special," he said. "Lacrosse wasn't that big. We set a precedent for what William Floyd lacrosse should shoot for and since then the program has grown."

Miller, a midfielder, led the Colonials in scoring that season with 63 points (31 g, 32 a), a school record until his brother Andrew, who plays at Johns Hopkins now, broke it the following season. His scoring touch and leadership earned him the Ray Enners Award in 2002.

"He was a very dedicated team first player for me," says former Floyd head coach Victor Guadagnino. "He worked very hard to make himself and everyone on the team a better player and person."

From Floyd, Miller went to the New York Institute of Technology, which houses one of the top Division II programs in the nation and is coached by the legend Jack Kaley.

"Going there was one of the greatest things that ever happened in my life," he says.

Fast forward to Miller's junior season. Sudden death overtime in the Division II National Championship.

"I can't explain to you the emotions that go through your body," he says. "It will always stay in my mind."

NYIT won, and Matt had his second national championship ring. His team also won during his freshman campaign. He was named All-America three times in college.

Lacrosse aside, Miller learned a great deal.

"They showed me how to be a man and handle myself in ways that I didn't think were possible," he says. "The coaching and experience that I received at NYIT, handling schedules and obstacles, was tremendous."

Sticking close to his roots, Miller is a fourth grade teacher and assistant varsity lacrosse coach in William Floyd today, hoping he can continue to help the program make great strides.