Seems like it's just a coincidence.  According to The Straight Dope (<a href="http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/637/whats-the-origin-of-miles-and-yards" rel="nofollow">http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/637/whats-the-origi...</a>) the length of a mile is based on the length of a Roman pace (or stride).