Miller and her husband, Derek, have two children, Crosby and Cy. 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. She became a star at Drury University. Her teams had a winning season in all six seasons while winning 20 or more games three times. 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. Molly Miller has been hired to replace Nicole Powell as Grand Canyon's women's basketball coach. Millers teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. "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. In her final season at Truman State, the Bulldogs finished with a 23-8 record marking the program's best season in 47 years. 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. Millers competitive fire that made her a Division II third-team All-American in 2008 has translated to coaching. She accepted the position in April at the Division I school. Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. 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. It was only a matter of time before she had to do it somewhere else. Drury will also start '19-20 season with a 40-game . With the resources and the excitement behind the athletic program and specifically the womens basketball program, theres real momentum there. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. 3,319 followers. Miller is considered the top NCAA Division II women's coach in the . 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. 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). 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. UNLV 77, Duke 79, Kentucky 103, Duke 104, Notre Dame 91, UConn 89, Texas A&M 63, Stanford 62. 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. 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. 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. View the profiles of people named Molly Miller. Miller left the Lady Panthers for Division I Grand Canyon on Wednesday and it took just five days for Drury to find her replacement. Drury has been ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. 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. 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. In turn, her teams have played uptempo, player-predicated motion offense that averaged 90.2 points per game this season. 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 ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (409). 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. 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. Miller's hustle-oriented teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. Her .914 winning percentage at Drury was the top mark among active NCAA basketball coaches, regardless of gender or division. 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 will enter the 2019-20 owning the best winning percentage among head coaches in all of NCAA-II women's basketball. At every step, she has been a determined winner. Millers hustle-oriented teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. Miller led Kickapoo High School to a state championship. Facebook gives people the power to. 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 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 ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. The team that won its fourth-straight GLVC title just this past season got its wish. The car Miller and Haynes were riding in, a 2012 Honda Accord, was found totaled two 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. Miller's competitive fire that made her a Division II third-team All-American in 2008 has translated to coaching. Miller and her husband, Derek, have two children, Crosby and Cy. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (407). Before Jalen Rose worked at ESPN along with Molly Qerim and other sports analysts, he was a 13-year NBA veteran. She was studying to become a nurse. 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. 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. 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. 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. Eagan said she barely got the chance to talk to Miller as both start to settle into their new coaching roles. In the midst of global chaos, Grand Canyon University made a tremendous hire that might have been overshadowed by the events of 2020. At every step, she has been a determined winner. You can also sign up for his free "Bears Beat" newsletter by subscribing on News-Leader.com. 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. 1 every week in the Division II poll. Miller and her husband, Derek, are raising a 3-year-old daughter, Crosby, and a 3-month-old son, Cy. "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. I am thrilled coach Eagan will be taking the helm at Drury, and I sincerely wish her the best of luck. 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. At every step, she has been a determined winner. She challenges them on the court, invests in their lives off the court and keeps an open-door policy to form long-term relationships. "This was a place that I felt like I could take my career if she happened to leave. 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. I'm just a relationship coach.". 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. 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). "I'm super-competitive," Miller said. Thats going to be our goal and I think we can do it at GCU.. NCAA Tournament. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. She also served as a head coach at NAIA St. Ambrose in Davenport, Iowa, from 2005-07. 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. She was also a hall of fame-worthy player at the program in addition to being a two-time state champion at Kickapoo. 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. "Jinx" averaged 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists in 923 games for six teams. 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. The Lady Panthers won their first 35 games before falling in the Division II NCAA Tournament semifinals. Drury announced Amy Eagan would be promoted to the head coaching position after she spent one year as an assistant coach. Over her six-year Drury career, Miller is 128-8. The two have not been since since. 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. "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. "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." 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. Courtesy Paul Coro, Grand Canyon Athletic Communications. "I love the relationship part of it. "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. We're going to be very family-oriented at GCU. Join Facebook to connect with Molly Miller and others you may know. Off the court, Miller preaches about the importance of culture and comradery. If you havent heard about GCUs new womens basketball coach yet, then here is a summary of her resume. 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. We want to be one of the best teams in the nation. Play Index. Visit gcu.edu In her Drury playing career, her teams went 112-18 (.862). All the while, she put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. Eagan played college basketball at Truman State and was a four-time all-conference selection in the MIAA. Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. College Basketball Scores. 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. 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. Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Well have an exciting brand of basketball to play.. She and her husband Derek share a little about what it's like to balance. 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. 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 17-year-old girl's family is still searching for justice. She will enter the 2019-20 owning the best winning percentage among head coaches in all of NCAA-II women's basketball. 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. 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 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. She challenges them on the court, invests in their lives off the court and keeps an open-door policy to form long-term relationships. 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. 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. Miller is joined in Phoenix by her husband, Derek, and their two children, Crosby and Cy. "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. Instead of continuing on as the Truman State head coach, she decided to leave to become an assistant at Drury. She has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes. In her spare time, she loved to read and write. 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. 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. Drury. From 2004 to 2008, Miller played at Drury as a 5-foot-6 point guard and four-year starter. All the while, she has put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. The 2021-22 season concluded in the WNIT first round, the first WNIT berth for the Lopes in program history. We want to be one of the best teams in the nation. 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. 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. 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. 1988 Men's NCAA, 2019 Women's NCAA, 1940 Men's NCAA, 2006 Women's NCAA, 1981 Men's NCAA. 3,319 Followers, 580 Following, 584 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Molly Miller (@coach_mollymiller) coach_mollymiller. Her teams were top-5 in the nation in five different defensive statistical categories. "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. ATLANTA Molly Miller, head coach at Drury University, has been named the 2020 United States Marine Corps/WBCA NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year, the Women's Basketball Coaches . 1 every week in the Division II poll. Drury Lady Panthers:All Molly Miller did in Springfield was win. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Im excited to hit the ground running and meet those kids and love them like family. 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. Molly Miller is in her sixth season as the Lady Panthers head 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. Her Drury teams as a player went 112-18 (.862). 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. 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. I think we can make a big splash. "With the resources and the excitement behind the athletic program and specifically the women's basketball program, there's real momentum there. 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. 2023 www.news-leader.com. "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. On the court, Coach Miller is all about pressure defense. 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. 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. All the while, she put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. 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. "I'm excited to hit the ground running and meet those kids and love them like family. 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. 0:04 0:33 Molly Miller has known two things her entire basketball career: winning and doing it in Springfield. 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. Miller departs Drury with a career record of 180-17. Now it's time for her to win somewhere else. 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. 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We cannot wait for her and her family to arrive in Phoenix and join the GCU community." Drury was ranked in the Division II top 25 for a nation-leading 111 consecutive weeks. 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. Were going to be very family-oriented at GCU. 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). This year's team was 32-0, 20-0 in GLVC Conference play. 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. Miller's teams have played with frenetic energy to dominate in Division II and she exudes a similar intensity on the sideline. 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. 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. 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. 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. Her work ethic and loyalty are unmatched, and her outstanding character sets the bar high. 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).