#LopesUp 0:43 1K views GCU Havocs and 3 others Coach Molly Miller Retweeted 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. 1 for every week of the Division II poll up until the NCAA tournament cancellation. Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University." All Molly Miller did in Springfield was win. Her Panthers teams held a stunning 67-1 mark over her last two seasons at her hometown university in Springfield, Missouri. Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. 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. Drury Lady Panthers:All Molly Miller did in Springfield was win. At every step, she has been a determined winner. 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. Grand Canyon University head coach Molly Miller joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss full-court pressure and playing uptempo.Miller holds the highest care. 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. 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). All the while, she put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. "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. 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 is in her sixth season as the Lady Panthers head coach. "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 ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (409). She also served as a head coach at NAIA St. Ambrose in Davenport, Iowa, from 2005-07. Her Drury teams as a player went 112-18 (.862). 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. Miller is joined in Phoenix by her. Over her six-year Drury career, Miller is 128-8. 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. 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! https://gculopes.com/news/2020/4/7/womens-basketball-miller-takes-gcu-helm-as-elite-winner.aspx. PHOENIX, Ariz. (KY3) - Grand Canyon University head basketball coach Molly Miller made her name in Springfield. 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. 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. "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. 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. Follow. 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. "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. 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. From 2004 to 2008, Miller played at Drury as a 5-foot-6 point guard and four-year starter. Miller led Kickapoo High School to a state championship. 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). During her final two seasons at Drury, her team went 67-1 including a perfect 32-0 season prior to the cancellation of the 2019-20 NCAA Tournament. She challenges them on the court, invests in their lives off the court and keeps an open-door policy to form long-term relationships. 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. 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. Her work ethic and loyalty are unmatched, and her outstanding character sets the bar high. 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. "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. On the heels of Mother's Day, GCU Women's Basketball Head Coach Molly Miller shares a glimpse inside her family. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 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). All the while, she has put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. 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. Miller enters the 2022-23 season with an .866 winning percentage, second highest among active Division I head coaches, .19 behind UConns Geno Auriemma. Now that you have a little background on Coach Miller, its time to get to know the person behind all that success. 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. In turn, her teams have played uptempo, player-predicated motion offense that averaged 90.2 points per game this 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, . 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. Well have an exciting brand of basketball to play.. 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, are raising a 3-year-old daughter, Crosby, and a 3-month-old son, Cy. GCU named Miller, 34, as its new head coach Tuesday after she posted an astounding 180-17 record over . 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. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Mo.. 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. At every step, she has been a determined winner. 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. Visit gcu.edu "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. Off the court, Miller preaches about the importance of culture and comradery. She goes on to say, "Molly is a light shining forever," and there are plans for a . Courtesy Paul Coro, Grand Canyon Athletic Communications. Eagan said she barely got the chance to talk to Miller as both start to settle into their new coaching roles. The car Miller and Haynes were riding in, a 2012 Honda Accord, was found totaled two weeks . 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. 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. If an undefeated mark does not state Drurys dominance under Miller enough, the Panthers also led Division II in scoring margin for the past two seasons, winning by an average of 27.9 points per game in 2018-19 and an average of 28.5 points per game this season. Passion. 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. Miller just completed her fifth season as the Lady Panthers head coach and her teams have gone 148-17. The team that won its fourth-straight GLVC title just this past season got its wish. Molly was an athlete in high school, participating in dance, basketball, and softball. 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. 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. 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 leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University. Drury won by 27.9 points per game in 2018-19 and 28.5 per game in 2019-20. In what could have been seen as a questionable decision led her to land the head coaching position as the head coach of the No. 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). We want to be one of the best teams in the nation. 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. Before Jalen Rose worked at ESPN along with Molly Qerim and other sports analysts, he was a 13-year NBA veteran. "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. Miller and her husband, Derek, have two children, Crosby and Cy. 2023 Western Athletic Conference. 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. I think we can make a big splash. Drury has been ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. Her Panthers teams held a stunning 67-1 mark over her last two seasons at her hometown university in Springfield, Missouri. The Lady Panthers won their first 35 games before falling in the Division II NCAA Tournament semifinals. 1 every week in the Division II poll. 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. That's going to be our goal and I think we can do it at GCU." 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. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); HoopDirt is your source for the latest college basketball coaching news, rumors, and job postings. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. She will enter the 2019-20 owning the best winning percentage among head coaches in all of NCAA-II women's basketball. Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. 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. 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. The Drury womens basketball program is in great hands, and this alum couldnt be happier!. 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. 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. 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. Miller was also named the national coach of the year and her name was already floating around for Division I openings. At every step, she has been a determined winner. Join Facebook to connect with Molly Miller and others you may know. 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. 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. Millers competitive fire that made her a Division II third-team All-American in 2008 has translated to coaching. "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. From 2004 to 2008, Miller played at Drury as a 5-foot-6 point guard and four-year starter. 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). College Basketball Scores. The Lopes were picked third in the WAC Preseason Coaches Poll with two on the preseason All-Conference team. 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.". Her winning record as a player and a former head coach is impressive. She challenges them on the court, invests in their lives off the court and keeps an open-door policy to form long-term relationships. Drury announced Amy Eagan would be promoted to the head coaching position after she spent one year as an assistant coach. 584 posts. 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. 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. 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 . She inherits a team from Nicole Powell that went 15-12 . She was studying to become a nurse. 0:04 0:33 Molly Miller has known two things her entire basketball career: winning and doing it in Springfield. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 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. 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. 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. She has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes. Her combined high school and college record as a player was 221-27. 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 considered the top NCAA Division II women's coach in the . She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (407). We want to be one of the best teams in the nation. I think we can make a big splash. 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. "I love the relationship part of it. Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. 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. 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. On the court, Coach Miller is all about pressure defense. She has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes. 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). Member News Getting to know the kids outside of just basketball I just think those things are really, really important. Drury is coming off a 32-0 season that ended abruptly because of the NCAA Tournament's cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic. We'll have an exciting brand of basketball to play." Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. 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. 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 was also a hall of fame-worthy player at the program in addition to being a two-time state champion at Kickapoo. I'm just a relationship coach.". Molly Miller Life is good Grand Canyon University Head Womens Bball Coach #lopesup . At every step, she has been a determined winner. Miller is joined in Phoenix by her husband, Derek, and their two children, Crosby and Cy. 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. 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.". 14 Ohio State, Aggies Stumble in Home Tilt Versus UT Arlington, Tyler McCliment-Call Ties Her Season-High with 17 points as the Ladyjacks Fly Past the Redhawks, WEEK AT A GLANCE: WBB hosts Bearkats, MBB heads to West Coast for WAC play, Men's Tennis Defeats Oral Roberts in Tight Match, CBUs Harper to Represent WAC as Member of NCAA Womens Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group, WAC Announces Academic All-WAC Honorees for Spring 2020 Sports, Freshmen and Transfers, Tiffany Sardin to be Next Chicago State Head Women's Basketball Coach, WAC Board Announces Adjustments to Basketball Tournament Eligibility, Grand Canyons Holland Named Her Hoops Stats Fab 15 Freshman, WAC Announces Academic All-WAC Honorees for 2020 Winter Sports, Molly Miller Named Grand Canyon Head Women's Basketball Coach, WAC Announces Cancellation of Basketball Tournament, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - March 10, TicketSmarter WAC Womens Basketball Player of the Week Announced, WAC Women's Basketball Postseason Honorees Announced, 2020 Hercules Tires WAC Womens Basketball Tournament Bracket Announced, WAC Statement on Chicago State, Kansas City Basketball Cancellations, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - March 3, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Feb. 25, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Feb. 18, Hercules Tires Named Title Sponsor of WAC Basketball Tournament, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Feb. 11, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Feb. 4, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Jan. 28, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Jan. 21, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Jan. 14, NM State at Kansas City Womens Basketball Game Rescheduled Due to Weather, TicketSmarter Named Presenting Sponsor of WAC Basketball Tournament, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Jan. 7, WAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week Announced, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Dec. 31, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Dec. 24, This Week in WAC Women's Basketball - Dec .