Molly Miller Post Game | Feb.27 vs Seattle - YouTube 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. In turn, her teams have played uptempo, player-predicated motion offense that averaged 90.2 points 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. Her teams had a winning season in all six seasons while winning 20 or more games three times. Well have an exciting brand of basketball to play.. 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. 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. Last month, Women's 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. 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. 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. In her Drury playing career, her teams went 112-18 (.862). With the resources and the excitement behind the athletic program and specifically the womens basketball program, theres real momentum 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). She challenges them on the court, invests in their lives off the court and keeps an open-door policy to form long-term relationships. 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 111-62. "I couldn't be more appreciative of her and everything she's done for me.". In her Drury playing career, her teams went 112-18 (.862). 12 Apr 2019 News Drury University women's basketball head coach Molly Miller has agreed to terms with the institution on a contract extension that will run through the 2021-22 season. Eagan played college basketball at Truman State and was a four-time all-conference selection in the MIAA. "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. The virtuosic Molly Miller on her magical 335 and guitar becoming a 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. The Lady Panthers became the first team in GLVC history to win three league titles in a row and were the first team ever to go unbeaten during the regular season and win the conference tournament in the same year. 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. Getting to know the kids outside of just basketball I just think those things are really, really important. Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. Miller enters the 2022-23 season with an .866 winning percentage, second highest among active Division I head coaches, .19 behind UConns Geno Auriemma. 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. Miller posted an astounding 180-17 record over six years at her alma mater, Drury. On the heels of Mother's Day, GCU Women's Basketball Head Coach Molly Miller shares a glimpse inside her family. During her playing days at Drury, she was named third-team All-American in 2008 and finished top-3 in program history for points, assists and steals. Molly Miller exits Drury with a career record of 180-17, By: Ed Beach, Assistant AD for External Affairs/Media Relations, Make a Gift (Basketball Benefits Included), TicketSmarter - Official Ticket Resale Partner, Molly Miller's letter to the Drury Community, Link to Grand Canyon University news release, Lady Panthers escape quarterfinals scare from Quincy, Top seeded Lady Panthers open GLVC Tournament vs Quincy, Thur., 6 pm, Amy Eagan named GLVC Coach of the Year; Moore is Defensive Player of the Year; Schaaf named Freshman of the Year; four selected as All-GLVC, Lady Panthers remain at number two in national poll, .914 winning percentage leads all of NCAA women's basketball, Led the team to 54 straight home wins (2016-current), the second-longest home-court winning streak in NCAA-II, Was 55-0 at home in the GLVC during her career, NCAA-II Coach of the Year (WBCA) 2020 and 2019, 2020 NCAA-II Coach of the Year (World Exposure Report), 2020 NCAA-II Coach of the Year (HoopDirt.com), Number One national ranking for all 16 weeks of the NCAA-II coaches' poll, Nationally ranked in the NCAA-II Top 25 for 111 straight weeks, the longest such streak in the nation, and ranked in the Top 10 for 48 consecutive weeks, Won five GLVC championships in her six years (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020), Won six GLVC regular season titles (West Division in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018; finished first as a one-division league in 2019 and 2020), Made NCAA-II tournament in all six of seasons (advanced to regional finals in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019), Advanced to NCAA-II national semifinals in 2019, Coached the NCAA-II Player of the Year twice (, Had 19 players named All-GLVC, with 12 players named First Team All-GLVC, Had one GLVC Player of the Year (Hailey Diestlkamp, 2020), Had two GLVC Freshman of the Year winners (, Had three named GLVC Defensive Player of the Year (, Inducted into Drury Sports Hall of Fame, 2012. Episode 186: Molly Miller, Full-Court Pressure and Playing Uptempo. "She carries herself with class and poise, and I was so proud to have her by my side last year. 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. The Basketball Podcast: EP186 with Molly Miller on Pressing and Pace Instead of continuing on as the Truman State head coach, she decided to leave to become an assistant at Drury. 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. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (409). Visit gcu.edu "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. The entertaining style and success have made Drury one of the top Division II draws, ranking third in attendance last season at 1,768 fans per game despite only having 1,500 undergraduate students on campus and competing for Ozarks basketball fans with Missouri State. Miller and her husband, Derek, are raising a 3-year-old daughter, Crosby, and a 3-month-old son, Cy. 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. 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. 224-34 (.868) 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. She was able to overcome adversity and utilize modern technology and other unorthodox recruiting techniques to help sell the dream of GCU womens basketball during her first offseason in Division I. 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. 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. Passion. 1 for every week of the Division II poll up until the NCAA tournament cancellation. 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 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. Before Jalen Rose worked at ESPN along with Molly Qerim and other sports analysts, he was a 13-year NBA veteran. 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. At every step, she has been a determined winner. Play Index. Miller is considered the top NCAA Division II women's coach in the . Miller left the Lady Panthers for Division I Grand Canyon on Wednesday and it took just five days for Drury to find her replacement. 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. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (407). The competitive fire of a 2008 Division II third-team All-American has translated to coaching. 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. The Lopes were picked third in the WAC Preseason Coaches Poll with two on the preseason All-Conference team. Molly Miller agrees to three-year contract extension with Drury 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. 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.". Drury won by 27.9 points per game in 2018-19 and 28.5 per game in 2019-20. The Drury womens basketball program is in great hands, and this alum couldnt be happier!. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. The two have not been since since. 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. Molly Miller named Coach of the Year | KOLR - OzarksFirst.com 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. "I have all the faith in the world that this will be a very easy transition for the program and the kids and that we can continue what we have done with the expectations for this program and then do those things even better.". Miller and her husband, Derek, are raising a 3-year-old daughter, Crosby, and a 3-month-old son, Cy. Molly Miller named Head Women's Basketball Coach at Grand Canyon 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. 1 for every week of the Division II poll up until the NCAA tournament cancellation. Molly Miller is in her sixth season as the Lady Panthers head coach. The .914 winning percentage tops any active Division I, II or III mens or womens basketball head coach with at least five years of experience and includes a stunning 67-1 mark over the past two seasons. 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). 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. 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. 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. She challenges them on the court, invests in their lives off the court and keeps an open-door policy to form long-term relationships. Millers hustle-oriented teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. The moment it all started "I started playing guitar when I was seven years old. Miller maintained Drury's tradition upon becoming head coach at age 28 and she ascended the program to reach the 2019 Division II Final Four and post a 32-0 record in 2019-20, when the Panthers were ranked No. 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. 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). 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. Grand Canyons aspirations to rise in Division I womens 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. The car Miller and Haynes were riding in, a 2012 Honda Accord, was found totaled two 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. Drury Athletics Director Corey Bray saw what Molly Miller did a year ago and he knew he needed to start looking for a successor. 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. Molly Miller - Head Coach, Women's Basketball - Women's Basketball Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. 2023 Western Athletic Conference. The competitive fire of a 2008 Division II third-team All-American has translated to coaching. We're going to be very family-oriented at GCU. 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. We cannot wait for her and her family to arrive in Phoenix and join the GCU community." Miller maintained Drury's tradition upon becoming head coach at age 28 and she ascended the program to reach the 2019 Division II Final Four and post a 32-0 record in 2019-20, when the Panthers were ranked No. PHOENIX, Ariz. (KY3) - Grand Canyon University head basketball coach Molly Miller made her name in Springfield. She was studying to become a nurse. 3,319 followers. 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. Drury. "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. Millers teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. Facebook gives people the power to. "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. The team that won its fourth-straight GLVC title just this past season got its wish. She has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes.
We cannot wait for her and her family to arrive in Phoenix and join the GCU community.. I'm just a relationship coach.". 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). Now that you have a little background on Coach Miller, its time to get to know the person behind all that success. Molly Miller Life is good Grand Canyon University Head Womens Bball Coach #lopesup . "With the resources and the excitement behind the athletic program and specifically the women's basketball program, there's real momentum there. "I love the relationship part of it. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 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. Molly Miller | SicEm365 She has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes. Molly Miller: Drury Lady Panther coach leaves for Grand Canyon Molly Miller College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. 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. View the profiles of people named Molly Miller. 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. 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. Join Facebook to connect with Molly Miller and others you may know. Her Drury teams as a player went 112-18 (.862). Molly Miller named head coach at Grand Canyon University Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University." 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. 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, . 1 every week in the Division II poll. Miller's teams have played with frenetic energy to dominate in Division II and she exudes a similar intensity on the sideline. "I'm super-competitive," Miller said. 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. 584 posts. Years later, she became the school's head coach. She accepted the position in April at the Division I school. 1 team in the country. Follow. Eagan said she barely got the chance to talk to Miller as both start to settle into their new coaching roles. 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, Arizona's. 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. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Millers teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. Now it's time for her to win somewhere else. Before joining Drury, Eagan had a successful six-year stint as the head coach at Truman State. Bray started to gather a shortlistjust in case someone hired Miller away. The entertaining style and success have made Drury one of the top Division II draws, ranking third in attendance last season at 1,768 fans per game despite only having 1,500 undergraduate students on campus and competing for Ozarks basketball fans with Missouri State. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. And at Drury, her teams led the nation in scoring margin her final two seasons, winning by 27.9 and 28.5 points per game, respectively. Her winning record as a player and a former head coach is impressive. All the while, she put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. The Panthers have guarded opponents from baseline to baseline and led Division II with 30.8 turnovers forced per game this season. 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.