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.". If you havent heard about GCUs new womens basketball coach yet, then here is a summary of her resume. Her .914 winning percentage at Drury was the top mark among active NCAA basketball coaches, regardless of gender or division. "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 AthleticsJamie Boggssaid. She also served as a head coach at NAIA St. Ambrose in Davenport, Iowa, from 2005-07. 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. Upon her hiring at Drury, she still ranked fourth all-time in scoring and was the program's career leader in assists, steals and free throws made. Miller departs Drury with a career record of 180-17. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (407). In turn, her teams have played uptempo, player-predicated motion offense that averaged 90.2 points per game this season. Miller led Kickapoo High School to a state championship. View the profiles of people named Molly Miller. 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. Miller's hustle-oriented 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. 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. 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. Episode 186: Molly Miller, Full-Court Pressure and Playing Uptempo. She has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes. 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. In her spare time, she loved to read and write. 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. Miller holds the highest career winning percentage (.892) of any NCAA men's or women's basketball coach . Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. 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. 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 has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes. In the midst of global chaos, Grand Canyon University made a tremendous hire that might have been overshadowed by the events of 2020. She took over as head coach at her alma mater in 2014 and led the program to historic heights amassing a 180-17 record over six 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). 1 every week in the Division II poll. GCU named Miller, 34, as its new head coach Tuesday after she posted an astounding 180-17 record over . Sophomore transfer Aaliyah Collins was tabbed to the First Team after finishing third in the WAC in steals per game (2.52) in and fourth in steals (68) a season ago. "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. The 2021-22 season concluded in the WNIT first round, the first WNIT berth for the Lopes in program history. Molly Miller is in her sixth season as the Lady Panthers head coach. "This was a place that I felt like I could take my career if she happened to leave. On the court, Coach Miller is all about pressure defense. 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. 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. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. We cannot wait for her and her family to arrive in Phoenix and join the GCU community.. Off the court, Miller preaches about the importance of culture and comradery. In turn, her teams have played uptempo, player-predicated motion offense that averaged 90.2 points per game this season. 1 every week in the Division II poll. Im excited to hit the ground running and meet those kids and love them like family. 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. Molly Miller - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more . Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University.. 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. 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. Molly Miller has been hired to replace Nicole Powell as Grand Canyon's women's basketball coach. Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. Miller is joined in Phoenix by her husband, Derek, and their two children, Crosby and Cy. Miller posted an astounding 180-17 record over six years at her alma mater, Drury. 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. Im super-competitive, Miller said. 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. Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. At every step, she has been a determined winner. Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. Molly Miller Life is good Grand Canyon University Head Womens Bball Coach #lopesup . 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. Drury is coming off a 32-0 season that ended abruptly because of the NCAA Tournament's cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic. 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, . 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. All the while, she has put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. This year's team was 32-0, 20-0 in GLVC Conference play. READ ALSO:GCU freezes tuition for 13th year. HomeBusiness NewsMolly Miller brings winningest college coaching record to GCU. 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. 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 . Drury will also start '19-20 season with a 40-game . "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. 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). 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. The competitive fire of a 2008 Division II third-team All-American has translated to coaching. 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. Miller is the new head women's basketball coach of Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. Thursday, Marian McConnell released a statement via Facebook. Her work ethic and loyalty are unmatched, and her outstanding character sets the bar high. She was studying to become a nurse. 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. 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. We will have to give each other virtual hugs for now, but soon well be high-fiving each other on the court after a Lopes win, Miller said. 1 for every week of the Division II poll up until the NCAA tournament cancellation. PHOENIX, Ariz. (KY3) - Grand Canyon University head basketball coach Molly Miller made her name in Springfield. "I'm super-competitive," Miller said. 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. 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.". "She has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes. Miller took over the Division 1 program at Grand Canyon in 2020. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Mo.. In this week's coaching conversation, Grand Canyon University head coach Molly Miller joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss full-court pressure and playing uptempo. NCAA Tournament. Miller was also named the national coach of the year and her name was already floating around for Division I openings. Molly was an athlete in high school, participating in dance, basketball, and softball. 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. "She was one of my biggest supporters and she really, really helped me through this process," Eagan said. I am thrilled coach Eagan will be taking the helm at Drury, and I sincerely wish her the best of luck. Founded, monitored, and run by college coaches. Millers hustle-oriented teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. The Lady Panthers won their first 35 games before falling in the Division II NCAA Tournament semifinals. Drury was ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. The two-time Division II Coach of the Year ended her Drury career with the D-II national runner-up in 2019 and an undefeated, top-ranked 2020 team when the national tournament was canceled because of COVID-19. 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. Player Season Finder . The Panthers have guarded opponents from baseline to baseline and led Division II with 30.8 turnovers forced per game this season. 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. 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. "Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. Drury Lady Panthers:All Molly Miller did in Springfield was win. 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. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. We cannot wait for her and her family to arrive in Phoenix and join the GCU community." She became a star at Drury University. The Lopes were picked third in the WAC Preseason Coaches Poll with two on the preseason All-Conference team. The competitive fire of a 2008 Division II third-team All-American has translated to coaching. 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. Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University." Drury announced Amy Eagan would be promoted to the head coaching position after she spent one year as an assistant 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). 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. Miller just completed her fifth season as the Lady Panthers head coach and her teams have gone 148-17. Millers teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. 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). Eagan said she barely got the chance to talk to Miller as both start to settle into their new coaching roles. Copyright 2023 AZ Big Media | All Rights Reserved | Site by Blufish, PNC survey shows small business owners see bright future, Ranking Arizona: Top 10 mechanical contractors for 2023, Goodyear takes next steps to make new downtown a reality. Drury won by 27.9 points per game in 2018-19 and 28.5 per game in 2019-20. Miller enters the 2022-23 season with an .866 winning percentage, second highest among active Division I head coaches, .19 behind UConns Geno Auriemma. https://gculopes.com/news/2020/4/7/womens-basketball-miller-takes-gcu-helm-as-elite-winner.aspx. Visit gcu.edu 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 ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Miller is joined in Phoenix by her. The determination of her and her coaching staff directly resulted in their ability to sign an exciting freshmen class, as well as a few notable transfers, site unseen. 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. Facebook gives people the power to. 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. Her Drury teams as a player went 112-18 (.862). 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. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 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. 584 posts. 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. 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). 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. 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. 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. From 2004 to 2008, Miller played at Drury as a 5-foot-6 point guard and four-year starter. 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. Instead of continuing on as the Truman State head coach, she decided to leave to become an assistant at Drury. 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. Molly MillerCoach 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 Vice President of Athletics Jamie Boggs said of Miller's hiring. Her Drury teams as a player went 112-18 (.862). The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. All the while, she has put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. "She carries herself with class and poise, and I was so proud to have her by my side last year. Her teams were top-5 in the nation in five different defensive statistical categories. 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. She goes on to say, "Molly is a light shining forever," and there are plans for a . 0:04 0:33 Molly Miller has known two things her entire basketball career: winning and doing it in Springfield. Drury was ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. Passion. All rights reserved. On the heels of Mother's Day, GCU Women's Basketball Head Coach Molly Miller shares a glimpse inside her family. 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 womens basketball coach Molly Miller led the school to its first NIT appearance this season. She challenges them on the court, invests in their lives off the court and keeps an open-door policy to form long-term relationships. She inherits a team from Nicole Powell that went 15-12 . 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. The 2021-22 season concluded in the WNIT first round, the first WNIT berth for the Lopes in program history. 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, won the Midwest Regional, and won their third-straight GLVC championship in 2018-19. Drury has been ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. She challenges them on the court, invests in their lives off the court and keeps an open-door policy to form long-term relationships. Her winning record as a player and a former head coach is impressive. The moment it all started "I started playing guitar when I was seven years old. Join Facebook to connect with Molly Miller and others you may know. The car Miller and Haynes were riding in, a 2012 Honda Accord, was found totaled two weeks . 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. 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. 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. Bray started to gather a shortlistjust in case someone hired Miller away. 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. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Before joining Drury, Eagan had a successful six-year stint as the head coach at Truman State. 1 for every week of the Division II poll up until the NCAA tournament cancellation. 1 team in the country. I think we can make a big splash. 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. "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.". 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. Well have an exciting brand of basketball to play.. "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. 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. Now that you have a little background on Coach Miller, its time to get to know the person behind all that success. Both Mueller and Boggs raved about Millers character and leadership upon hiring her last year, and it already shows during her short time here in the Valley. We'll have an exciting brand of basketball to play." 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. She will enter the 2019-20 owning the best winning percentage among head coaches in all of NCAA-II women's basketball. 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 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 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. "With the resources and the excitement behind the athletic program and specifically the women's basketball program, there's real momentum there. 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 been ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. Play Index. "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." 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. 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. College Basketball Scores. 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). I'm just a relationship coach.". "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. She was also a hall of fame-worthy player at the program in addition to being a two-time state champion at Kickapoo. Over her six-year Drury career, Miller is 128-8. 2023 Western Athletic Conference. Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University. 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.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. "I couldn't be more appreciative of her and everything she's done for me.". Drury won by 27.9 points per game in 2018-19 and 28.5 per game in 2019-20. 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. A year later, Bray had to use that list but he didn't have to look far. Drury will also start '19-20 season with a 40-game . Theres no doubt that Coach Miller is bringing a ton of excitement to the GCU athletic program, so if you havent been paying attention to Antelopes basketball, it might be time to jump on the bandwagon. Miller and her husband, Derek, have two children, Crosby and Cy. 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.
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