Doyal D'angelo is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism Student assigned to cover Central High School for AZPreps365.com

No matter what Central High School coach Willie Miles experienced on his journey through football, he always had the support and confidence of his late mother, Linda Miles, that helped him push through -- a form of parenting he wishes to pass on to his two sons, Cassidee and Maxwell Miles. 

Willie’s wife, Clara Miles, witnessed his mother’s influence whenever she saw her. 

“For what (Willie) set out to do, it took his mom and the power of prayer to get him where he is today,” Clara said. “To have a healthy family, healthy kids and a healthy career.” 

Miles was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, and remembers going to Dunbar High School football games at 4 years old, which inspired him to start playing street football with his friends. 

This hobby helped a young Miles hone his football skills, but it also proved to be costly after he had spent two years playing for his junior football team, the Forest Hill Chaparrals. 

In August 1989, a 9-year-old Miles was enjoying a normal game of street football until he hit his left knee on a dirty water sprinkler, which left a small lump on his left knee from the impact. 

Miles remembers waking up abruptly at 4 a.m. the next day and alarming his mother about the lump. 

“The bump had doubled in size and was causing me tremendous pain,” Miles said. 

Linda rushed him to Cook Children's Hospital. 

Miles says that his doctor took a quick look at the knee and explained to Linda that it might be a 1-in-1,000 infection that could lead to amputation of his lower leg. 

“He took a syringe and he withdrew the fluid and it was a bright yellow,” Miles said. “So it was highly infected within a couple hours.”

The doctor rushed Miles to emergency surgery and reminded Linda of the possibility of amputation, but Linda never accepted that.

Miles remembers hearing his mom praying and telling the doctor that it was possible to save his legs. She never gave up hope. 

Despite having his leg saved through surgery, Miles had to stay in the hospital for two and a half months to have his knee joint repeatedly drained of fluid to curb future infection. 

Willie’s older brother, TeQuarial Earl, remembers feeling absolute relief. 

“We were just grateful as a family that he didn't lose a limb,” Earl said. “It was a joyous feeling and another way that our family overcame adversity.” 

Miles says the doctor explained to his mother how he would never play football again and wouldn’t be able to run the same, but Linda did not tell Willie about this at the time. 

Linda bought a knee brace to help him build confidence in playing sports again. 

Just two months after surgery, Linda encouraged Willie and the Forest Hills coaching staff to let him run a play in the championship game to score a congratulatory touchdown. 

As everyone went with it, Miles limped onto the field and the team went ballistic after seeing him score from the 5-yard line. 

“I was just happy to be out there with my teammates,” Miles said. “Happy to be able to put on a uniform again, and as a youngster, not taking the opportunity for granted.” 

Linda’s decision was extremely risky, but it seemed to do exactly what she intended, which was to show her son that he had the capability of playing football again. 

“She always taught us to be fearless,” Earl said. “You could never count (Willie) out and he felt like he could do anything.”

Eight months went by and Miles was completely healed, getting faster, and starting to hit a growth spurt. He made summer track a yearly occurrence in middle school and by the time high school started, he was as confident as ever in his athletic ability. 

Miles made the varsity football team at Dunbar High School as a freshman and worked his way to starting cornerback by the fourth game, staying a starter for the rest of his time at Dunbar, where he was a consistent all-district player. 

After committing to Nebraska following a football camp, Miles says he vaulted the nationwide cornerback rankings, cracking the top three, and eventually had offers from more schools than he could count. 

After spending some time in Nebraska, Miles realized that he couldn’t handle the cold weather so he decommitted from Nebraska and went to Tennessee, where he was a two-year starter and an all-SEC player his senior year. 

He was a part of the 1998 Tennessee national championship team, which was the first to win in the Bowl Championship Series system. 

Miles started experiencing recurrent injury issues in his time at Tennessee and it hindered him as he looked towards the National Football League in 2003. 

Miles said the Dallas Cowboys wanted to draft him but noticed irregularities in his previously infected knee. 

Suffering from turf toe in both feet and a hamstring injury during short stints with the Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts, Miles used medicine and ice baths to push through. 

After being released by the Colts due to bone spurs in his knee, Miles played in the Canadian Football League for the BC Lions in 2007 for a short time, but after suffering yet another injury, he decided to call it quits and focus on his budding family. 

“Becoming a one percenter was enough for me,” Miles said. “ I wish I could have played longer but I already know the sacrifices that would’ve gone into that." 

Willie and Clara have striven to provide an adolescent life for their sons, Cassidee and Maxwell, that was not possible for them. They both play football at Central under the coaching of their dad, while their mom grapples with the everyday life of a sports mom. 

“It’s different being an athlete's mom,” Clara said. “Because his dad gives me rules of how they should eat, how much rest they should get, what vitamins they should take, icing their bodies at home, and still being a full-time working mom while helping at the school, too.” 

Clara appreciates the work her children set in front of her because it is a sign that they are on the right path. 

“They’ve grown up in good neighborhoods, good spaces, and we wanted it like that because we grew up in the hood,” Miles said, “where you have to watch your back everywhere you go, watch for bullets, watch for needles, and so it’s always good to get away from that.” 

Willie wants to enforce the possibility of not only his kids going far with football, but also anyone who plays for Central football. He believes positivity is the key to helping any child or teenager, especially ones from tough backgrounds, get further in life.  

“I want to always be someone positive that they can look towards,” Miles said. “To help the kids get beyond their highest dreams.”

Miles feels that his experiences with football can help any high school student who aspires to be a professional athlete, and he wants to continue to reach the youth through his coaching at Central, making sure they keep up with their goals, grades, and keeping good character. 

“My brother has this unique ability to reach the youth because he has been there and done that,” Earl said. 

Cassidee, who is currently a 3-star wide receiver, has offers from four schools including Arizona and Oregon. He attributes his success to his father’s guidance. 

“I am mentally strong. He’s really made me the person and athlete that I am today,” Cassidee said. “It doesn't matter if I'm boxing Mike Tyson, I believe I’m better than him.” 

Cassidee believes that is the mindset you have to achieve in order to be successful playing sports, a mentality that made its way down from his late grandmother Linda.