"This was a place that I felt like I could take my career if she happened to leave. "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. Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. She goes on to say, "Molly is a light shining forever," and there are plans for a . Molly Miller Life is good Grand Canyon University Head Womens Bball Coach #lopesup . 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. 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. 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. 1 every week in the Division II poll. "I'm super-competitive," Miller said. Her teams had a winning season in all six seasons while winning 20 or more games three times. "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. 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. 3,319 Followers, 580 Following, 584 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Molly Miller (@coach_mollymiller) coach_mollymiller. Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. GCU finished third in the country in steals per game (12.6), steals (404) and 10th in turnovers forced (21.72) a season ago. What Happened to Molly Miller and Colt Haynes? What We Know - Oprah Daily Were going to be very family-oriented at GCU. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (409). 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 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. You can also sign up for his free "Bears Beat" newsletter by subscribing on News-Leader.com. Now that you have a little background on Coach Miller, its time to get to know the person behind all that success. Molly Miller Post Game | Feb.27 vs Seattle - YouTube 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.". The Lopes were picked third in the WAC Preseason Coaches Poll with two on the preseason All-Conference team. 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. Follow. Drury. https://gculopes.com/news/2020/4/7/womens-basketball-miller-takes-gcu-helm-as-elite-winner.aspx. In her Drury playing career, her teams went 112-18 (.862). Drury Lady Panthers: How Amy Eagan replaced Molly Miller as head coach "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. Miller departs Drury with a career record of 180-17. 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. "I built some really good relationships with those kids," Eagan said. A year later, Bray had to use that list but he didn't have to look far. 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. Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. Miller and her husband, Derek, have two children, Crosby and Cy. Im excited to hit the ground running and meet those kids and love them like family. Her Panthers teams held a stunning 67-1 mark over her last two seasons at her hometown university in Springfield, Missouri. 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. 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. Thats going to be our goal and I think we can do it at GCU.. 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. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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. Miller led Kickapoo High School to a state championship. 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 . 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. Molly was an athlete in high school, participating in dance, basketball, and softball. Over her six-year Drury career, Miller is 128-8. 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. 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. Her winning record as a player and a former head coach is impressive. 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. 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 . Molly Miller agrees to three-year contract extension with Drury Molly Miller - Women's Basketball Coach - Grand Canyon University Athletics Molly Miller named head coach at Grand Canyon University 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. We'll have an exciting brand of basketball to play." 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. Before joining Drury, Eagan had a successful six-year stint as the head coach at Truman State. Molly Miller | SicEm365 Millers teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. 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. 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. Miller and her husband, Derek, are raising a 3-year-old daughter, Crosby, and a 3-month-old son, Cy. 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 Balances Basketball & Motherhood - YouTube Molly Miller: Drury Lady Panther coach leaves for Grand Canyon 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 virtuosic Molly Miller on her magical 335 and guitar becoming a Her Panthers teams held a stunning 67-1 mark over her last two seasons at her hometown university in Springfield, Missouri. Her work ethic and loyalty are unmatched, and her outstanding character sets the bar high. Her teams were top-5 in the nation in five different defensive statistical categories. Now it's time for her to win somewhere else. The 2021-22 season concluded in the WNIT first round, the first WNIT berth for the Lopes in program history. She grew up in Springfield, Missouri, as Molly Carter and played at Kickapoo High School and Drury University in her hometown. Years later, she became the school's head coach. At every step, she has been a determined winner. 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. The competitive fire of a 2008 Division II third-team All-American has translated to coaching. Miller took over the Division 1 program at Grand Canyon in 2020. Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University.. DII women's basketball: Drury's Molly Miller named 2020 WBCA National We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. In July of 2013, Molly Miller and Colton Haynes were passengers in a car chase with police when the driver allegedly turned onto a dead-end Oklahoma road. We cannot wait for her and her family to arrive in Phoenix and join the GCU community.. Drury's Molly Miller taking head coaching position at Grand Canyon 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 became a star at Drury University. 584 posts. Millers hustle-oriented teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. 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. She was studying to become a nurse. 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 was ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. SPRINGFIELD, Mo.. In her final season at Truman State, the Bulldogs finished with a 23-8 record marking the program's best season in 47 years. 2019 Molly Miller is leading the Grand Canyon women's basketball program for her third season as Lopes head coach after taking over the program on April 7, 2020. Molly 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 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. The Lady Panthers won their first 35 games before falling in the Division II NCAA Tournament semifinals. The two have not been since since. All the while, she put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. She has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes. Miller is joined in Phoenix by her husband, Derek, and their two children, Crosby and Cy. 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.". 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. 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. Coach Molly Miller (@MollyMiller33) / Twitter 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. Miller holds the highest career winning percentage (.892) of any NCAA men's or women's basketball coach . 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. 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. Growing up in Springfield as Molly Carter, she found her love of basketball at age 8 as a ball girl for national power Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State). Eagan played college basketball at Truman State and was a four-time all-conference selection in the MIAA. 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. 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. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); HoopDirt is your source for the latest college basketball coaching news, rumors, and job postings. Miller's hustle-oriented teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. All rights reserved. She challenges them on the court, invests in their lives off the court and keeps an open-door policy to form long-term relationships. Molly Miller - Head Coach, Women's Basketball - Women's Basketball