Molly Miller: Drury Lady Panther coach leaves for Grand Canyon Miller is joined in Phoenix by her. Now it's time for her to win somewhere else. She has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes. Molly Miller is in her sixth season as the Lady Panthers head coach. Now it's time for her to win somewhere else. 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. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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. Off the court, Miller preaches about the importance of culture and comradery. 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. Visit gcu.edu She and her husband Derek share a little about what it's like to balance. A year later, Bray had to use that list but he didn't have to look far. 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). The 2021-22 season concluded in the WNIT first round, the first WNIT berth for the Lopes in program history. Drury was ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. Miller enters the 2022-23 season with an .866 winning percentage, second highest among active Division I head coaches, .19 behind UConns Geno Auriemma. 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. 580 following. If you havent heard about GCUs new womens basketball coach yet, then here is a summary of her resume. Before Jalen Rose worked at ESPN along with Molly Qerim and other sports analysts, he was a 13-year NBA veteran. 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. Molly Miller Mother "She Took Her Own Life" - TheCount.com READ ALSO:GCU freezes tuition for 13th year. Play Index. 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. She was studying to become a nurse. 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. 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. Her teams had a winning season in all six seasons while winning 20 or more games three times. At every step, she has been a determined winner. She was also a hall of fame-worthy player at the program in addition to being a two-time state champion at Kickapoo. Drury will also start '19-20 season with a 40-game . 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 enters the 2022-23 season with an .866 winning percentage, second highest among active Division I head coaches, .19 behind UConn's Geno Auriemma. All the while, she put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. 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. PHOENIX, Ariz. (KY3) - Grand Canyon University head basketball coach Molly Miller made her name in Springfield. "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. 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). 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. Miller was also named the national coach of the year and her name was already floating around for Division I openings. Molly Miller - Women's Basketball Coach - Grand Canyon University Athletics "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. "With the resources and the excitement behind the athletic program and specifically the women's basketball program, there's real momentum there. The Lopes were picked third in the WAC Preseason Coaches Poll with two on the preseason All-Conference team. Eagan said she barely got the chance to talk to Miller as both start to settle into their new coaching roles. The two have not been since since. 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. With the resources and the excitement behind the athletic program and specifically the womens basketball program, theres real momentum there. Her teams were top-5 in the nation in five different defensive statistical categories. Molly Miller (@coach_mollymiller) Instagram photos and videos 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 for every week of the Division II poll up until the NCAA tournament cancellation. Drury's Molly Miller taking head coaching position at Grand Canyon 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. Years later, she became the school's head coach. 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 enters the 2022-23 season with an .866 winning percentage, second highest among active Division I head coaches, .19 behind UConn's Geno Auriemma. 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. 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. Grand Canyon University head coach Molly Miller joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss full-court pressure and playing uptempo.Miller holds the highest care. Molly Miller Profiles | Facebook 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. Miller builds program on, off court - Grand Canyon University Athletics We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 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 brings winningest college coaching record to GCU The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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! 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. Miller departs Drury with a career record of 180-17. We cannot wait for her and her family to arrive in Phoenix and join the GCU community.. "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. 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. "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. 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. 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. Im excited to hit the ground running and meet those kids and love them like family. 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. Drury Lady Panthers: How Amy Eagan replaced Molly Miller as head coach She grew up in Springfield, Missouri, as Molly Carter and played at Kickapoo High School and Drury University in her hometown. SPRINGFIELD, Mo.. 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. 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. 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.. 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 . 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Millers teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. Molly Miller named head coach at Grand Canyon University We want to be one of the best teams in the nation. Drury announced Amy Eagan would be promoted to the head coaching position after she spent one year as an assistant coach. Coach Molly Miller (@MollyMiller33) / Twitter Player Season Finder . Molly Miller - Head Coach - Grand Canyon University Athletics Episode 186: Molly Miller, Full-Court Pressure and Playing Uptempo. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (407). Courtesy Paul Coro, Grand Canyon Athletic Communications. She became a star at Drury University. 1 team in the country. 0:04 0:33 Molly Miller has known two things her entire basketball career: winning and doing it in Springfield. The competitive fire of a 2008 Division II third-team All-American has translated to coaching. At every step, she has been a determined winner. Her Panthers teams held a stunning 67-1 mark over her last two seasons at her hometown university in Springfield, Missouri. Drury has been ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. 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. Molly Miller - Women's Basketball Coach - Grand Canyon University Athletics Drury. 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. The Lady Panthers won their first 35 games before falling in the Division II NCAA Tournament semifinals. Miller and her husband, Derek, have two children, Crosby and Cy. 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 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.. 2023 Western Athletic Conference. 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. She challenges them on the court, invests in their lives off the court and keeps an open-door policy to form long-term relationships. 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. 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. 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). 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). DII women's basketball: Drury's Molly Miller named 2020 WBCA National UNLV 77, Duke 79, Kentucky 103, Duke 104, Notre Dame 91, UConn 89, Texas A&M 63, Stanford 62. Former Springfield & Drury star Molly Miller having success in Arizona Millers teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. Bray started to gather a shortlistjust in case someone hired Miller away. The Panthers have guarded opponents from baseline to baseline and led Division II with 30.8 turnovers forced per game this season. Passion. 1 every week in the Division II poll. Drury Lady Panthers:All Molly Miller did in Springfield was win. Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. 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 her spare time, she loved to read and write. Molly Miller - Head Coach, Women's Basketball - Women's Basketball 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. 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 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 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. She accepted the position in April at the Division I school. 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. "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. 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. 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.
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 is considered the top NCAA Division II women's coach in the . Drury won by 27.9 points per game in 2018-19 and 28.5 per game in 2019-20. 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.
In her final season at Truman State, the Bulldogs finished with a 23-8 record marking the program's best season in 47 years. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (409). "I'm excited to hit the ground running and meet those kids and love them like family. 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. 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.". 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. At every step, she has been a determined winner. Miller holds the highest career winning percentage (.892) of any NCAA men's or women's basketball coach . 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 Basketball Podcast: EP186 with Molly Miller on Pressing - YouTube Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. Miller and her husband, Derek, are raising a 3-year-old daughter, Crosby, and a 3-month-old son, Cy. Over her six-year Drury career, Miller is 128-8. 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. I think we can make a big splash. "This was a place that I felt like I could take my career if she happened to leave. Join Facebook to connect with Molly Miller and others you may know. Her Panthers teams held a stunning 67-1 mark over her last two seasons at her hometown university in Springfield, Missouri. Molly Miller and Colt Haynes Vanish in the Night After High - Medium Miller enters the 2022-23 season with an .866 winning percentage, second highest among active Division I head coaches, .19 behind UConns Geno Auriemma. Her work ethic and loyalty are unmatched, and her outstanding character sets the bar high. Founded, monitored, and run by college coaches. The Drury womens basketball program is in great hands, and this alum couldnt be happier!. 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 is joined in Phoenix by her husband, Derek, and their two children, Crosby and Cy. 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).