A year later, Bray had to use that list but he didn't have to look far. I'm just a relationship 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.". Bray started to gather a shortlistjust in case someone hired Miller away. Player Season Finder . 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. View Comments. 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. 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. 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. 580 following. 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. In turn, her teams have played uptempo, player-predicated motion offense that averaged 90.2 points per game this season. 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. The two have not been since since. She also served as a head coach at NAIA St. Ambrose in Davenport, Iowa, from 2005-07. 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. 1 for every week of the Division II poll up until the NCAA tournament cancellation. 2023 www.news-leader.com. 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.. Instead of continuing on as the Truman State head coach, she decided to leave to become an assistant at Drury. The moment it all started "I started playing guitar when I was seven years old. In turn, her teams have played uptempo, player-predicated motion offense that averaged 90.2 points per game this season. She inherits a team from Nicole Powell that went 15-12 . View the profiles of people named Molly Miller. 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. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. From 2004 to 2008, Miller played at Drury as a 5-foot-6 point guard and four-year starter. 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 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. Arizona Republic. 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. Miller left the Lady Panthers for Division I Grand Canyon on Wednesday and it took just five days for Drury to find her replacement. Miller is considered the top NCAA Division II women's coach in the . Her winning record as a player and a former head coach is impressive. #LopesUp 0:43 1K views GCU Havocs and 3 others Coach Molly Miller Retweeted Drury announced Amy Eagan would be promoted to the head coaching position after she spent one year as an assistant coach. 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 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. 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. 1 every week in the Division II poll. 3,319 followers. 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. "Jinx" averaged 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists in 923 games for six teams. 2023 Western Athletic Conference. 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. Drury will also start '19-20 season with a 40-game . It was only a matter of time before she had to do it somewhere else. The Lopes were picked third in the WAC Preseason Coaches Poll with two on the preseason All-Conference team. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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 2021-22 season concluded in the WNIT first round, the first WNIT berth for the Lopes in program history. In her spare time, she loved to read and write. Visit gcu.edu She and her husband Derek share a little about what it's like to balance. 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. "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. Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. 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. The team that won its fourth-straight GLVC title just this past season got its wish. "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. 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. 3,319 Followers, 580 Following, 584 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Molly Miller (@coach_mollymiller) coach_mollymiller. 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. We're going to be very family-oriented at GCU. 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. Millers teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. 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. "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 holds the highest career winning percentage (.892) of any NCAA men's or women's basketball coach . On the heels of Mother's Day, GCU Women's Basketball Head Coach Molly Miller shares a glimpse inside her family. 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. 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. 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. "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. "I built some really good relationships with those kids," Eagan said. 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 Athletics Director Corey Bray saw what Molly Miller did a year ago and he knew he needed to start looking for a successor. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (407). 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). Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. All the while, she has put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. Drury will also start '19-20 season with a 40-game . She grew up in Springfield, Missouri, as Molly Carter and played at Kickapoo High School and Drury University in her hometown. Miller and her husband, Derek, are raising a 3-year-old daughter, Crosby, and a 3-month-old son, Cy. "With the resources and the excitement behind the athletic program and specifically the women's basketball program, there's real momentum there. She accepted the position in April at the Division I school. In the midst of global chaos, Grand Canyon University made a tremendous hire that might have been overshadowed by the events of 2020. Thats going to be our goal and I think we can do it at GCU.. 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. 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. Were going to be very family-oriented at GCU. Miller and her husband, Derek, have two children, Crosby and Cy. 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. 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 . 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. Miller was also named the national coach of the year and her name was already floating around for Division I openings. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 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 UConns Geno Auriemma. READ ALSO:GCU freezes tuition for 13th year. 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. "I love the relationship part of it. "I am very excited," Eagan said during a Zoom press conference with members of the media. Over her six-year Drury career, Miller is 128-8. She was also a hall of fame-worthy player at the program in addition to being a two-time state champion at Kickapoo. 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. 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. 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. "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. We want to be one of the best teams in the nation. 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! Episode 186: Molly Miller, Full-Court Pressure and Playing Uptempo. "I'm excited to hit the ground running and meet those kids and love them like family. Miller's teams have played with frenetic energy to dominate in Division II and she exudes a similar intensity on the sideline. Drury is coming off a 32-0 season that ended abruptly because of the NCAA Tournament's cancellation due to the coronavirus pandemic. In her Drury playing career, her teams went 112-18 (.862). "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 recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. 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. 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. 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. 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. GCU womens basketball coach Molly Miller led the school to its first NIT appearance this season. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Now that you have a little background on Coach Miller, its time to get to know the person behind all that success. 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. Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. Visit gcu.edu Molly Miller has been hired to replace Nicole Powell as Grand Canyon's women's basketball coach. 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. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (409). Drury was ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. 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. 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. 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). Her .914 winning percentage at Drury was the top mark among active NCAA basketball coaches, regardless of gender or division. At every step, she has been a determined winner. 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 became a star at Drury University. She challenges them on the court, invests in their lives off the court and keeps an open-door policy to form long-term relationships. 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. The Lady Panthers won their first 35 games before falling in the Division II NCAA Tournament semifinals.