Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University. 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. Over her six-year Drury career, Miller is 128-8. 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. "Jinx" averaged 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists in 923 games for six teams. 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. 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. On the heels of Mother's Day, GCU Women's Basketball Head Coach Molly Miller shares a glimpse inside her family. 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. She also served as a head coach at NAIA St. Ambrose in Davenport, Iowa, from 2005-07. Her teams were top-5 in the nation in five different defensive statistical categories. 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! She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (409). The competitive fire of a 2008 Division II third-team All-American has translated to coaching. The 17-year-old girl's family is still searching for justice. 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, . Drury ended the year with a number three national ranking after being ranked number one in the coaches' poll throughout the second half of the season. Molly Miller's tenure as the Lady Panthers head coach saw another magical season under her leadership as Drury went 35-1, advanced to the NCAA-II national semifinals, won the Midwest Regional, and won their third-straight GLVC championship in 2018-19. "With the resources and the excitement behind the athletic program and specifically the women's basketball program, there's real momentum there. 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. 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. 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. She will enter the 2019-20 owning the best winning percentage among head coaches in all of NCAA-II women's basketball. 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. Miller posted an astounding 180-17 record over six years at her alma mater, Drury. Eagan said she barely got the chance to talk to Miller as both start to settle into their new coaching roles. 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. 580 following. Miller enters the 2022-23 season with an .866 winning percentage, second highest among active Division I head coaches, .19 behind UConns Geno Auriemma. She has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes. At every step, she has been a determined winner. We'll have an exciting brand of basketball to play." All rights reserved. Her Panthers teams held a stunning 67-1 mark over her last two seasons at her hometown university in Springfield, Missouri. 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. Molly Miller is in her sixth season as the Lady Panthers head coach. 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. 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. The Lady Panthers won their first 35 games before falling in the Division II NCAA Tournament semifinals. Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. 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. Now that you have a little background on Coach Miller, its time to get to know the person behind all that success. PHOENIX, Ariz. (KY3) - Grand Canyon University head basketball coach Molly Miller made her name in Springfield. From 2004 to 2008, Miller played at Drury as a 5-foot-6 point guard and four-year starter. 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 carries herself with class and poise, and I was so proud to have her by my side last year. Molly Miller is leading the Grand Canyon women's basketball program for her third season as Lopes head coach after taking over the program on April 7, 2020. She and her husband Derek share a little about what it's like to balance. 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, . "I have all the faith in the world that this will be a very easy transition for the program and the kids and that we can continue what we have done with the expectations for this program and then do those things even better.". Miller enters the 2022-23 season with an .866 winning percentage, second highest among active Division I head coaches, .19 behind UConn's Geno Auriemma. The 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. 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. The Panthers have guarded opponents from baseline to baseline and led Division II with 30.8 turnovers forced per game this season. In the five days leading up to the announcement of her hiring, multiple Lady Panthers voiced their support for Eagan while hoping she would get the promotion. Im super-competitive, Miller said. SPRINGFIELD, Mo.. Facebook gives people the power to. 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. Her winning record as a player and a former head coach is impressive. "This was a place that I felt like I could take my career if she happened to leave. Miller and her husband, Derek, are raising a 3-year-old daughter, Crosby, and a 3-month-old son, Cy. 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.. Before joining Drury, Eagan had a successful six-year stint as the head coach at Truman State. Her teams had a winning season in all six seasons while winning 20 or more games three times. 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. "Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. 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. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. "I couldn't be more appreciative of her and everything she's done for me.". At every step, she has been a determined winner. Miller and her husband, Derek, are raising a 3-year-old daughter, Crosby, and a 3-month-old son, Cy. READ ALSO:GCU freezes tuition for 13th year. "She was one of my biggest supporters and she really, really helped me through this process," Eagan said. 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. We want to be one of the best teams in the nation. 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. In her Drury playing career, her teams went 112-18 (.862). She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (407). Grand Canyon University head coach Molly Miller joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss full-court pressure and playing uptempo.Miller holds the highest care. Millers competitive fire that made her a Division II third-team All-American in 2008 has translated to coaching. View the profiles of people named Molly Miller. She was studying to become a nurse. 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). 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. 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. Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University." 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. "To this day, she's the most competitive person I've ever been around," her Drury coach, now-George Mason head coach Nyla Milleson, once told theSpringfield News-Leader. The competitive fire of a 2008 Division II third-team All-American has translated to coaching. "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." Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. Drury was ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. 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 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. 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. The Panthers have guarded opponents from baseline to baseline and led Division II with 30.8 turnovers forced per game this season. 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. Molly Miller has been hired to replace Nicole Powell as Grand Canyon's women's basketball coach. https://gculopes.com/news/2020/4/7/womens-basketball-miller-takes-gcu-helm-as-elite-winner.aspx. I think we can make a big splash. 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. Well have an exciting brand of basketball to play.. The Lopes were picked third in the WAC Preseason Coaches Poll with two on the preseason All-Conference team. GCU named Miller, 34, as its new head coach Tuesday after she posted an astounding 180-17 record over . 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. The team that won its fourth-straight GLVC title just this past season got its wish. Miller's teams have played with frenetic energy to dominate in Division II and she exudes a similar intensity on the sideline. Follow. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 1 team in the country. 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. Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. 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. With the resources and the excitement behind the athletic program and specifically the womens basketball program, theres real momentum there. This year's team was 32-0, 20-0 in GLVC Conference play. HomeBusiness NewsMolly Miller brings winningest college coaching record to GCU. Now it's time for her to win somewhere else. 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. 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. 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 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. UNLV 77, Duke 79, Kentucky 103, Duke 104, Notre Dame 91, UConn 89, Texas A&M 63, Stanford 62. Molly Miller Life is good Grand Canyon University Head Womens Bball Coach #lopesup . College Basketball Scores. That's going to be our goal and I think we can do it at GCU." Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. 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. 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. 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. Now it's time for her to win somewhere else. Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University.. 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). Drury won by 27.9 points per game in 2018-19 and 28.5 per game in 2019-20. Miller holds the highest career winning percentage (.892) of any NCAA men's or women's basketball coach . Join Facebook to connect with Molly Miller and others you may know. She will enter the 2019-20 owning the best winning percentage among head coaches in all of NCAA-II women's basketball. We cannot wait for her and her family to arrive in Phoenix and join the GCU community.. The Drury womens basketball program is in great hands, and this alum couldnt be happier!. 3,319 followers. 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. Founded, monitored, and run by college coaches. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (407). 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. "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. The entertaining style and success have made Drury one of the top Division II draws, ranking third in attendance last season at 1,768 fans per game despite only having 1,500 undergraduate students on campus and competing for Ozarks basketball fans with Missouri State. 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 . We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 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. GCU named Miller, 34, as its new head coach Tuesday after she posted an astounding 180-17 record over the past six years at her alma mater, Drury Univeristy in Springfield, Missouri. She inherits a team from Nicole Powell that went 15-12 . 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. 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. 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. Player Season Finder . "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 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. Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. If an undefeated mark does not state Drury's 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. 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. At every step, she has been a determined winner. 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. Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. 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. 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. 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). 1 for every week of the Division II poll up until the NCAA tournament cancellation. 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. "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. Eagan played college basketball at Truman State and was a four-time all-conference selection in the MIAA. In turn, her teams have played uptempo, player-predicated motion offense that averaged 90.2 points per game this season. Molly Miller - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more . Miller departs Drury with a career record of 180-17. 2023 www.news-leader.com. Arizona Republic. 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.". 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. 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. Miller just completed her fifth season as the Lady Panthers head coach and her teams have gone 148-17. All the while, she put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards.