This was not just an ordinary fishing trip. This was dropping a line on the famous "Island Green."

With a crowd gathering around the signature 17th hole an hour before the prestigious PGA Player's Championship, a young boy was fishing in the lake around one of golf's most recognizable and difficult holes.

Todd Miller, son of PGA legend and NBC commentator Johnny Miller, said growing up he enjoyed bass fishing with his dad before tournaments.

"The two of us have always seemed, as Forrest Gump said, [like] 'peas and carrots,'" Johnny Miller said of his youngest son. "Todd always seemed to like the things that I like."

Todd Miller is entering his fourth year as the assistant men's golf coach at BYU. Through his confident yet unpretentious character, he has made his own name in the golf world. Instilling that confidence in his golfers is another big part of his life.

"Golf was probably the most important thing in my life, all growing up," Miller said.

Born in 1980, Todd Miller is the youngest son of former PGA golfer Johnny Miller. He has three brothers John Jr., 38, Scott, 32, Andy, 30 and two sisters, Kelly, 36, and Casi, 34. Three of Johnny Miller's sons, Scott, Andy and Todd, played collegiate golf for BYU, following in their father's footsteps.

Although his dad retired when Todd was only 6, he still had a name and reputation to live up to.

"In a lot of ways, it was tough," the BYU assistant golf coach said. "People would create false ideas about you just because you were Johnny Miller's son."

Miller said once people got to know him, they realized he was his own individual.

"He has a very tender heart," Johnny Miller said. "I can't get a nicer son than Todd."

Following a successful career as a junior, Miller was named All-American and Academic All-American after four years at BYU. After serving an LDS mission to Chile, Miller said he lost all desire to play professionally, although he still wanted to play well. Despite the accolades, he met expectations with humility and confidence.

In between Johnny Miller's travels as an NBC analyst, the former U.S. Open champ would sometimes coach his youngest son on his golf game.

"He doesn't sugar coat anything," Todd Miller said. "He would tell us exactly what was wrong and what we needed to improve."

The Miller patriarch, Todd's grandfather and Johnny's father, Larry Miller, also helped him on the course. Todd said his grandfather's interest in golf came later in life. Eventually, though, he got to the point where he was a good golfer, and decided to teach the sport to his children.

"My grandpa was all about building confidence," Todd Miller said. "If you shanked one or whiffed it, he would tell you the complete opposite."

Miller said he leans to his grandpa's style of teaching, trying to build confidence, with his Cougar golfers. He said although golf is an individual sport, he tries to create team unity.

"The main thing is, as a coach, is not really trying to favor one player or another," Todd Miller said. "The best way to do that is to have a very competitive group of guys that leave that on the course."

Nick Killpack, a senior at BYU, has had basketball, baseball and other golf coaches, but said Miller is "by far the best coach [he's] ever had."

"Fundamentally, he tries to instill confidence in us," the senior from St. George said. "He is very consistent in trying to help us be more confident in ourselves and our abilities."

One way Miller helps is by sending the team e-mails about sports psychology. Killpack said each e-mail helps the team to think better on the golf course and "how to be a better person."

"There is a consensus on the team that if we need something, Todd will get it done, tell us how to do it, or if he doesn't know, he'll point us in the right direction," the senior golfer said.

Esteban Calisto, a sophomore Cougar golfer, said Miller helps him in every aspect of his college career, whether it is academics, golf, or language. Calisto is from Ecuador and because Miller served in Chile, they are able to speak Spanish together.

"He is a great guy," the Ecuadorian said. "He is always pushing us hard. He believes in us."

Miller said he can't think of a job that he would rather be doing.

"[The players] have a passion for what they're doing and you get to help them achieve those goals," Miller said.

In addition to building confidence, Miller is able to pass on advice from the professionals.

"I think it's good for me in the coaching aspect," he said. "Growing up with my dad I've been around great players. I was able to talk about things that they say. They like that and respect that."

One of the things Miller always tells the team about Jack Nicklaus is that even though he was one of the greatest players in the world, he would go back to his teacher every year, and tell his instructor to teach him like he knew nothing.

"He was humble enough to learn those basic things over and over again," Miller said. "That's the game of golf. You're always learning and adding to your knowledge."

Aside from assisting the BYU men's golf team he works with American Indian Services, a non-profit organization based in Utah Valley. Miller lives in Provo with his wife, Shannon, and two girls.

Copyright Brigham Young University 28 Oct 2008