The .914 winning percentage tops any active Division I, II or III men's or women's basketball head coach with at least five years of experience and includes a stunning 67-1 mark over the past two seasons. Drury has been a Division II power since Miller played there (2004-08) as a 5-foot-6 point guard who started for four seasons. Bray started to gather a shortlistjust in case someone hired Miller away. It was only a matter of time before she had to do it somewhere else. Her statement reveals Molly Miller took her own life, and now her family and friends are left asking why, saying "There was not a single sign that anything was wrong or bothering her.". Jody Adams-Birch takes over at New Mexico State, NM State will not renew the contract of WBB Head Coach Atkinson, OFFICIAL: Gottlieb added to Grand Canyon WBB staff, Graduate Assistant Lawrence Technological University, Head Womens Basketball Coach Defiance College, Head Womens Basketball Coach University of Wisconsin River Falls. GCU womens basketball coach Molly Miller led the school to its first NIT appearance this season. In turn, her teams have played uptempo, player-predicated motion offense that averaged 90.2 points per game this season. College Basketball Scores. PHOENIX, Ariz.Grand Canyon's aspirations to rise in Division I women's basketball will be in the hands of new Lopes head coach Molly Miller, a two-time Division II Coach of the Year who leads all active college basketball coaches in winning percentage. "She carries herself with class and poise, and I was so proud to have her by my side last year. GCU finished third in the country in steals per game (12.6), steals (404) and 10th in turnovers forced (21.72) a season ago. At every step, she has been a determined winner. 1 team in the country. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (407). "To this day, she's the most competitive person I've ever been around," her Drury coach, now-George Mason head coach Nyla Milleson, once told theSpringfield News-Leader. 8h A special thank you message to our Havocs, cheerleaders, dance team and band Your support means the world to us, and to the seniors of these groups, best of luck on your future endeavors! She and her husband Derek share a little about what it's like to balance coaching a college basketball team and raising two children.Grand Canyon University, Arizonas premier, private Christian university, helps students find their purpose with next- generation education, including over 270 academic programs with over 200 online programs. Miller was a three-time all conference player and MVP who led her team to 4 NCAA tournament appearances and a 112-18 record, was a three-time all-state player in HS, and led her team to 2 state championships and a record of 110-9 over four years. I love this game and everything that is has given to me so I want to give back to it and my players so they can find as much joy and love for the game, Miller said. Last month, Womens Basketball Coaches Association Executive Director Danielle Donehew called Miller a rising star after her peers named her the Division II Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year. Miller's hustle-oriented teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. Join Facebook to connect with Molly Miller and others you may know. Growing up in Springfield as Molly Carter, she found her love of basketball at age 8 as a ball girl for national power Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State). Miller went 180-17 in her eight years at her alma mater Drury in Springfield, Mo., the highest winning percentage for any NCAA D. II coach. Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University.. In two seasons in Phoenix, Millers high-pressure defense and up-tempo offense has seen GCU rank nationally in steals per game and turnovers forced per game. Miller is joined in Phoenix by her. Molly Miller has been hired to replace Nicole Powell as Grand Canyon's women's basketball coach. If an undefeated mark does not state Drurys dominance under Miller enough, the Panthers also led Division II in scoring margin for her last two seasons there. Growing up in Springfield as Molly Carter, she found her love of basketball at age 8 as a ball girl for national power Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State). Eagan's Truman State team won the Great Lakes Valley Conference title in her first season in 2013-14 and she finished her career as the program's all-time leader in coaching wins with a record of. The Lopes were picked third in the WAC Preseason Coaches Poll with two on the preseason All-Conference team. "To this day, shes the most competitive person Ive ever been around, her Drury coach, now-George Mason head coach Nyla Milleson, once told the Springfield News-Leader. I am thrilled coach Eagan will be taking the helm at Drury, and I sincerely wish her the best of luck. Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University." Features The virtuosic Molly Miller on her magical 335 and guitar becoming a 'choice' A revered session musician and educator who's worked alongside major artists like Jason Mraz amongst others, Miller is one of the most accomplished guitar players in the industry. 17, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Dec. 10, WAC Basketball Tournament All-Session Tickets On Sale Now, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Dec. 3, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Nov. 26, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Nov. 19, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Nov. 12, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Nov. 4, WAC Announces Basketball Preview Show, Spotlight Game Schedules, WAC Media Select NM State, Mattingly as Preseason Favorites, WAC Coaches Select NM State, Pack as Preseason Favorites. READ ALSO:GCU freezes tuition for 13th year. Drury has been ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. On the heels of Mother's Day, GCU Women's Basketball Head Coach Molly Miller shares a glimpse inside her family. #LopesUp 0:43 1K views GCU Havocs and 3 others Coach Molly Miller Retweeted "I love this game and everything that is has given to me so I want to give back to it and my players so they can find as much joy and love for the game," Miller said. Im excited to hit the ground running and meet those kids and love them like family. "I thought for myself as I continued to look at my life and my career, there's not a better Division II in the country," Eagan said of her decision. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Her teams had a winning season in all six seasons while winning 20 or more games three times. As head coach of the Drury Lady Panthers for six seasons, Miller compiled a 180-17 record - making her the winningest active coach with at least five years of experience - in all . In two seasons in Phoenix, Millers high-pressure defense and up-tempo offense has seen GCU rank nationally in steals per game and turnovers forced per game. Her Panthers teams held a stunning 67-1 mark over her last two seasons at her hometown university in Springfield, Missouri. Molly Miller Life is good Grand Canyon University Head Womens Bball Coach #lopesup . "To this day, shes the most competitive person Ive ever been around, her Drury coach, now-George Mason head coach Nyla Milleson, once told the Springfield News-Leader. 3,319 Followers, 580 Following, 584 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Molly Miller (@coach_mollymiller) coach_mollymiller. She has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes. Under Miller, Drury became the first Great Lakes Valley Conference program to win four consecutive titles and went 105-5 in conference play (55-0 at home) over her six-year tenure. In 2020-21, GCU ranked second nationally for steals (13.4 per game) and turnover margin (plus-8.4 per game) while also coming in fourth for turnovers forced (23.3 per game). Miller enters the 2022-23 season with an .866 winning percentage, second highest among active Division I head coaches, .19 behind UConn's Geno Auriemma. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (409). Make a Gift (Basketball Benefits Included), TicketSmarter - Official Ticket Resale Partner, 5 NCAA-II tournaments, 4GLVCchampionships, Note- no divisional play in the GLVC in 2018-19. GCU President Brian Mueller and Athletic Director Jamie Boggs tapped former Drury University head coach Molly Miller to take over the GCU womens basketball program on April 7, 2020. GCU finished third in the country in steals per game (12.6), steals (404) and 10th in turnovers forced (21.72) a season ago. "I'm excited to hit the ground running and meet those kids and love them like family. Miller just completed her fifth season as the Lady Panthers head coach and her teams have gone 148-17. Her Panthers teams held a stunning 67-1 mark over her last two seasons at her hometown university in Springfield, Missouri. Drury was ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. At GCU, Miller has compiled a 40-17 (.702) overall record and a 22-8 (.733) conference mark while solidifying GCU Arena as one of the toughest places to play with a 24-4 (.857) record at home. GCU offers new residence halls, amenities, academic buildings and state-of-the-art athletic facilities on campus, student support resources, dynamic online classrooms, innovative learning experiences and more. 1 for every week of the Division II poll up until the NCAA tournament cancellation. We'll have an exciting brand of basketball to play." Miller left Drury with a career record of 180-17 and her .914 winning percentage is the best mark in program history and leads all active women's basketball coaches at all levels of the NCAA. A year later, Bray had to use that list but he didn't have to look far. The Panthers have guarded opponents from baseline to baseline and led Division II with 30.8 turnovers forced per game this season. Miller and the Lopes have earned back-to-back appearances in the WAC Tournament championship game as she finished 22-10 overall and 14-4 in WAC play in 2021-22. All the while, she has put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. I have had the privilege to get to know President Mueller and the athletic director, Jamie Boggs, in the recent days, and the enthusiasm of these incredible leaders certainly helped solidify my decision, Miller said. Miller is the new head women's basketball coach of Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Her combined high school and college record as a player was 221-27. "I built some really good relationships with those kids," Eagan said. "Jinx" averaged 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists in 923 games for six teams. But since Miller took over as head coach at age 28 in 2014, she pushed the Panthers to the best all-time winning percentage (.827) in Division II history. "This was a place that I felt like I could take my career if she happened to leave. She and her husband Derek share a little about what it's like to balance. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (409). Were going to be very family-oriented at GCU. Growing up in Springfield as Molly Carter, she found her love of basketball at age 8 as a ball girl for national power Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State). You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email atwwheeler@news-leader.comor join the conversation on Twitter where his handle is@WyattWheeler_NL. Eagan will have some big shoes to fill as she tries to replace someone who was turning into a bit of a Springfield women's basketball icon before her departure. She goes on to say, "Molly is a light shining forever," and there are plans for a . Miller was quoted in the university's press release saying: Amy Eagan is a perfect fit to become the next head coach of the Drury University Lady Panthers. In the five days leading up to the announcement of her hiring, multiple Lady Panthers voiced their support for Eagan while hoping she would get the promotion. She already was mastering dribbling and finishing with either hand and progressed into a player who won two state championships at Kickapoo High School, where her teams went 109-9 (.924). 0:04 0:33 Molly Miller has known two things her entire basketball career: winning and doing it in Springfield. Miller's teams have played with frenetic energy to dominate in Division II and she exudes a similar intensity on the sideline. 3,319 followers. We're going to be very family-oriented at GCU. Visit gcu.edu Molly Miller is in her sixth season as the Lady Panthers head coach. GCU named Miller, 34, as its new head coach Tuesday after she posted an astounding 180-17 record over the past six years at her alma mater, Drury Univeristy in Springfield, Missouri. Head Coach Molly Miller (joined by Cy and Crosby) speaks with the media after GCU Women's Basketball defeats Seattle 80-64.Grand Canyon University, Arizonas premier, private Christian university, helps students find their purpose with next- generation education, including over 200 academic programs with over 150 online programs. ATLANTA Molly Miller, head coach at Drury University, has been named the 2020 United States Marine Corps/WBCA NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year, the Women's Basketball Coaches . Episode 186: Molly Miller, Full-Court Pressure and Playing Uptempo. She mastered dribbling and finishing with either hand and progressed into a player who won two state championships at Kickapoo High School, where her teams went 109-9 (.924). Millers teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. The 17-year-old girl's family is still searching for justice. After six seasons leading the Drury University women's basketball program, Molly Miller has accepted the head coaching position at Grand Canyon University, an NCAA Division I program in Phoenix, Arizona, and a member of the Western Athletic Conference. Drury won by 27.9 points per game in 2018-19 and 28.5 per game in 2019-20. If you havent heard about GCUs new womens basketball coach yet, then here is a summary of her resume. At GCU, Miller has compiled a 40-17 (.702) overall record and a 22-8 (.733) conference mark while solidifying GCU Arena as one of the toughest places to play with a 24-4 (.857) record at home. Over her six-year Drury career, Miller is 128-8. All the while, she put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. All the while, she has put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. The competitive fire of a 2008 Division II third-team All-American has translated to coaching. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Drury Lady Panthers:All Molly Miller did in Springfield was win. Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. The team that won its fourth-straight GLVC title just this past season got its wish. Miller posted an astounding 180-17 record over six years at her alma mater, Drury. "Given the unbelievable success Coach Miller has experienced on the basketball court, we are incredibly excited about the future of the women's basketball program," GCU President Brian Mueller said. She challenges them on the court, invests in their lives off the court and keeps an open-door policy to form long-term relationships. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Now it's time for her to win somewhere else. With the resources and the excitement behind the athletic program and specifically the womens basketball program, theres real momentum there. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. She became a star at Drury University. Drury has been a Division II power since Miller played there (2004-08) as a 5-foot-6 point guard who started for four seasons. Molly is a rising star, Womens Basketball Coaches Association Executive Director Danielle Donehew said after her peers gave her consecutive Division II Coach of the Year honors. Drury has won the Great Lakes Valley Conference in four consecutive seasons (no team previously had won more than two in a row) as Miller went 105-5 in conference play (55-0 at home) over her six-year tenure. Drury ended the year with a number three national ranking after being ranked number one in the coaches' poll throughout the second half of the season. All the while, she put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. Given the unbelievable success Coach Miller has experienced on the basketball court, we are incredibly excited about the future of the womens basketball program, GCU President Brian Mueller said. "I have had the privilege to get to know President Mueller and the athletic director,Jamie Boggs, in the recent days, and the enthusiasm of these incredible leaders certainly helped solidify my decision," Miller said. Miller and the Lopes have earned back-to-back appearances in the WAC Tournament championship game as she finished 22-10 overall and 14-4 in WAC play in 2021-22. Miller left the Lady Panthers for Division I Grand Canyon on Wednesday, Drury announced Amy Eagan would be promoted to the head coaching position, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Miller posted an astounding 180-17 record over six years at her alma mater, Drury. "I look forward to a seamless transition for our basketball program and the fun journey that lies ahead for our university, our players, our fans and our community." Molly was an athlete in high school, participating in dance, basketball, and softball. She challenges them on the court, invests in their lives off the court and keeps an open-door policy to form long-term relationships. Miller was also named the national coach of the year and her name was already floating around for Division I openings. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 1 every week in the Division II poll. Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. In her Drury playing career, her teams went 112-18 (.862). "I am very excited," Eagan said during a Zoom press conference with members of the media. Under Miller, Drury became the first Great Lakes Valley Conference program to win four consecutive titles and went 105-5 in conference play (55-0 at home) over her six-year tenure. Millers teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University. She will enter the 2019-20 owning the best winning percentage among head coaches in all of NCAA-II women's basketball. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Miller and her husband, Derek, have two children, Crosby and Cy. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Instead of continuing on as the Truman State head coach, she decided to leave to become an assistant at Drury. In turn, her teams have played uptempo, player-predicated motion offense that averaged 90.2 points per game this season. I think we can make a big splash. Miller enters the 2022-23 season with an .866 winning percentage, second highest among active Division I head coaches, .19 behind UConn's Geno Auriemma. Eagan said she barely got the chance to talk to Miller as both start to settle into their new coaching roles. Off the court, Miller preaches about the importance of culture and comradery. Just before becoming the head coach at Truman State, she was the head coach at Ashford and took a team that won just four games in her first season to a near .500-record the next year. Her ability to draw crowds and excite fans certainly bodes well for her at GCU, considering it has one of the most celebrated student sections in all of college basketball. She took a pay cut to return to Drury as an assistant coach for two seasons before being elevated to interim head coach, a title that lost the interim tag after a 7-2 start. Im super-competitive, Miller said. That's going to be our goal and I think we can do it at GCU." Drury Athletics Director Corey Bray saw what Molly Miller did a year ago and he knew he needed to start looking for a successor. Given the unbelievable success Coach Miller has experienced on the basketball court, we are incredibly excited about the future of the womens basketball program, GCU President Brian Mueller said at the time of her hiring. At every step, she has been a determined winner. Molly Miller's tenure as the Lady Panthers head coach saw another magical season under her leadership as Drury went 35-1, advanced to the NCAA-II national semifinals, . Drury will also start '19-20 season with a 40-game . She guided Drury to the Division II Final Four last year and a 32-0 record this season, when she put the Panthers at No. 1988 Men's NCAA, 2019 Women's NCAA, 1940 Men's NCAA, 2006 Women's NCAA, 1981 Men's NCAA. Visit gcu.edu (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); HoopDirt is your source for the latest college basketball coaching news, rumors, and job postings. We want to be one of the best teams in the nation. "We will have to give each other virtual hugs for now, but soon we'll be high-fiving each other on the court after a Lopes win," Miller said. When you work hard and strive for great things and you're a good person, you want to achieve great things and that's what you can do with the support here and the resources here.". Miller enters the 2022-23 season with an .866 winning percentage, second highest among active Division I head coaches, .19 behind UConns Geno Auriemma. "We will have to give each other virtual hugs for now, but soon we'll be high-fiving each other on the court after a Lopes win," Miller said. Molly Miller - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more . All Rights Reserved, 2023 Hercules Tires WAC Basketball Tournament, Lancers Down Lopes in Front of Sellout Crowd, Tennis set to open 2023 season versus Utah, Trip ends with 3-2 comeback win vs. No. To this day, shes the most competitive person Ive ever been around, her Drury coach, now-George Mason head coach Nyla Milleson, once told the Springfield News-Leader. Millers competitive fire that made her a Division II third-team All-American in 2008 has translated to coaching. The Molly Miller coaching debut for Grand Canyon women's basketball will not come until the fall but the Lopes' new head coach has no problem describing what fans will see on the court and the sideline. 580 following. Veteran forward Tiarra Brown, who enters her junior season and third under Miller, was selected to the Second Team and returns as the leading scorer for the Lopes with 9.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 2021-22. "Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. We cannot wait for her and her family to arrive in Phoenix and join the GCU community.. View Comments. Grand Canyon University head coach Molly Miller joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss full-court pressure and playing uptempo.Miller holds the highest care. 1 every week in the Division II poll. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (407). Coach Miller is one of the winningest college head coaches in the country and a true leader who knows how to run a championship program, GCU Interim Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs said. Miller's competitive fire that made her a Division II third-team All-American in 2008 has translated to coaching. Drury was ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University. 2023 www.news-leader.com. In her Drury playing career, her teams went 112-18 (.862). The 2021-22 season concluded in the WNIT first round, the first WNIT berth for the Lopes in program history. In July of 2013, Molly Miller and Colton Haynes were passengers in a car chase with police when the driver allegedly turned onto a dead-end Oklahoma road. The two have not been since since. In her first job, Miller spent four years as a marketing director for Springfield Neurological and Spine Institute, putting her master of business administration to use while giving basketball instruction to players on the side. GCU named Miller, 34, as its new head coach Tuesday after she posted an astounding 180-17 record over . Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. She was also a hall of fame-worthy player at the program in addition to being a two-time state champion at Kickapoo. Miller and her husband, Derek, are raising a 3-year-old daughter, Crosby, and a 3-month-old son, Cy. SPRINGFIELD, Mo.. 2019 Molly Miller is leading the Grand Canyon women's basketball program for her third season as Lopes head coach after taking over the program on April 7, 2020. Molly is a rising star, Womens Basketball Coaches Association Executive Director Danielle Donehew said after her peers gave her consecutive Division II Coach of the Year honors. Play Index. 2023 Western Athletic Conference. But since Miller took over as head coach at age 28 in 2014, she pushed the Panthers to the best all-time winning percentage (.827) in Division II history. Make a Gift (Basketball Benefits Included), TicketSmarter - Official Ticket Resale Partner, 5 NCAA-II tournaments, 4GLVCchampionships, Note- no divisional play in the GLVC in 2018-19. This exciting style of basketball led Drury to the third-highest average attendance (1,768) in Division II during her final season, despite only having 1,500 undergraduate students on campus and competing with crosstown rivals Missouri State. Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. Arizona Republic. https://gculopes.com/news/2020/4/7/womens-basketball-miller-takes-gcu-helm-as-elite-winner.aspx. In her first job, Miller spent four years as a marketing director for Springfield Neurological and Spine Institute, putting her master of business administration to use while giving basketball instruction on the side. Drury has won the Great Lakes Valley Conference in four consecutive seasons (no team previously had won more than two in a row) as Miller went 105-5 in conference play (55-0 at home) over her six-year tenure. For the first time ever, her basketball career has taken her outside of Springfield, as she embarks on a new journey as head coach of the GCU Antelopes. Drury won by 27.9 points per game in 2018-19 and 28.5 per game in 2019-20. The Lopes were picked third in the WAC Preseason Coaches Poll with two on the preseason All-Conference team. She took a pay cut to return to Drury as an assistant coach for two seasons before being elevated to Panthers interim head coach, a title that lost the interim tag after a 7-2 start. Grand Canyon's aspirations to rise in Division I women's basketball will be in the hands of new Lopes head coach Molly Miller, a two-time Division II Coach of the Year who leads all active college basketball coaches in winning percentage.