Atlantic Cape Buccaneers Athletics Program Announces New Women’s Basketball and Esports Head Coaches

MAYS LANDING — The Atlantic Cape Community College Buccaneers Athletics program is pleased to welcome John Miller as its new Women’s Basketball team head coach and Orren Stewart as its new Esports team head coach.

Leading the way forward as the Women’s Basketball program looks to rebuild itself is Miller, a Bridgeton native with a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Thomas Edison State University, who has nearly 30 years of basketball coaching experience at the middle and high school, Division III junior college, NCAA and semi-pro levels.

Miller’s passion for the game and for coaching is what drove him to accept the head coaching position at Atlantic Cape and what drives him to succeed. He is also keenly aware of the inherent challenges that come with building a program from the ground up.

“Coaching basketball is a passion and hobby for me. It is an art. I knew it (the rebuild) was a huge project. You have to know how to recruit and knowing a ton of coaches is key,” said Miller. “It has been challenging, but that’s what makes me go harder. I want this program to win and be successful for women to come and play for.”

Prior to accepting the women’s coaching reins at Atlantic Cape, Miller previously coached the past four years at Stockton University. He also served most recently as an assistant coach at Rowan College South Jersey from 2018-21, as well as with Oakcrest, St. Joseph’s and Vineland high schools and the semi-pro Atlantic City Seagulls over the years. Miller has also served as the head coach at the Atlantic County Institute of Technology from 2010-12, Burlington County College from 2003-05 and Cumberland Regional High School from 2005-10.

Miller has experience running basketball camps as Director of Philadelphia 76ers camps (2004-07), Duke University Men's Basketball camp (2007-14) and Director of All-American High School Basketball Showcase (2007-present).

The Buccaneers Women’s Basketball team opens the 2024-25 season on Saturday, November 9 against the Community College of Philadelphia, 12 p.m. at Jonathan Pitney Gymnasium on the Mays Landing campus.

Now in its third season, Atlantic Cape’s Esports program is excited to have Stewart and his years of competitive gaming, for which he has traveled all across the country for, and commitment to communication as the head coach. Stewart replaces former Head Coach William “Bud” Morey, who guided the program through its inaugural two seasons in the College’s new Innovation Center.

Stewart competed in the Call of Duty World League Open Bracket from 2014-17 before moving on to coaching from 2018-20. He also has experience in gaming and coaching Overwatch and Counter-Strike 2.

For Stewart, communication is the key to a successful program, team and season.

“I am a huge preacher of communication, particularly in chaotic team games like Call of Duty and Overwatch. I’ve been on teams who were incredibly good skill wise, but ended up losing early because of bad communication. I have also been on less-talented teams who made it further with amazing communication. Communicate what you need to communicate through the headset accurately and say little else- quick, concise and to the point,” said Stewart.

Stewart is excited to be a part of this growing and popular athletics program.

“The opportunity to essentially start something from scratch and complete my unfinished business from when I was a competitor drives me. It’s basically a blank slate for me to carve my own story and nothing excites me more than that, besides the chance to win a few championships as a coach, which I couldn’t do as a player,” said Stewart. “I think the most natural way to continue to grow is to pass positive energy off to everyone I’m around. I truly want to build something great and win here at Atlantic Cape and I think the players have bought into that as well.”

Visit atlanticcape.edu/womensbasketball and atlanticcape.edu/esports for more information, rosters and upcoming schedules.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 33 certificate and professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.