Drury will also start '19-20 season with a 40-game . 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. 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. 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 her Drury playing career, her teams went 112-18 (.862). Im super-competitive, Miller said. Her leadership capabilities and strong faith background make her an ideal representative of the University." 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 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.". Before Jalen Rose worked at ESPN along with Molly Qerim and other sports analysts, he was a 13-year NBA veteran. The competitive fire of a 2008 Division II third-team All-American has translated to coaching. She inherits a team from Nicole Powell that went 15-12 . Founded, monitored, and run by college coaches. Courtesy Paul Coro, Grand Canyon Athletic Communications. 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. 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. We'll have an exciting brand of basketball to play." Drury will also start '19-20 season with a 40-game . Follow. She challenges them on the court, invests in their lives off the court and keeps an open-door policy to form long-term relationships. Were going to be very family-oriented at GCU. All the while, she put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. 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. Her combined high school and college record as a player was 221-27. At every step, she has been a determined winner. 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. 3,319 Followers, 580 Following, 584 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Molly Miller (@coach_mollymiller) coach_mollymiller. She has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes. 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. Passion. 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. We cannot wait for her and her family to arrive in Phoenix and join the GCU community." And at Drury, her teams led the nation in scoring margin her final two seasons, winning by 27.9 and 28.5 points per game, respectively. NCAA Tournament. "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. Her basketball record is nothing short of incredible but even more important is who she is as a person. Off the court, Miller preaches about the importance of culture and comradery. "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. 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. "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. The 2021-22 season concluded in the WNIT first round, the first WNIT berth for the Lopes in program history. 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, . 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. Millers teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. 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. Im excited to hit the ground running and meet those kids and love them like family. Drury. 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). 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. In her final season at Truman State, the Bulldogs finished with a 23-8 record marking the program's best season in 47 years. 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. Molly was an athlete in high school, participating in dance, basketball, and softball. Miller's hustle-oriented teams defend with the intensity and trapping that was her trademark as a player. Miller holds the highest career winning percentage (.892) of any NCAA men's or women's basketball coach . 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. Eagan said she barely got the chance to talk to Miller as both start to settle into their new coaching roles. All the while, she put an emphasis on her players being students first, learning life skills and acting as community stewards. 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. "She has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes. The team that won its fourth-straight GLVC title just this past season got its wish. 1 every week in the Division II poll. I think we can make a big splash. 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). "She carries herself with class and poise, and I was so proud to have her by my side last year. Miller recruits players with a similar hunger to win and work to improve. 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. 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. 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. 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. Getting to know the kids outside of just basketball I just think those things are really, really important. 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. 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. Miller is the new head women's basketball coach of Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. The 2021-22 season concluded in the WNIT first round, the first WNIT berth for the Lopes in program history. In her Drury playing career, her teams went 112-18 (.862). 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 use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. "I'm 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. Now that you have a little background on Coach Miller, its time to get to know the person behind all that success. She also served as a head coach at NAIA St. Ambrose in Davenport, Iowa, from 2005-07. 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. Play Index. 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. 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 .914 winning percentage at Drury was the top mark among active NCAA basketball coaches, regardless of gender or division. The Lopes were picked third in the WAC Preseason Coaches Poll with two on the preseason All-Conference team. The car Miller and Haynes were riding in, a 2012 Honda Accord, was found totaled two weeks . 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. Drury Lady Panthers:All Molly Miller did in Springfield was win. Molly Miller - Stats, Game Logs, Splits, and much more . 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. "This was a place that I felt like I could take my career if she happened to leave. 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). 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. 1 for every week of the Division II poll up until the NCAA tournament cancellation. 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. 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. 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. Miller posted an astounding 180-17 record over six years at her alma mater, Drury. She ranks fourth in program history for career points (1,570), third for assists (439) and second for steals (409). I'm just a relationship coach.". 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. Thursday, Marian McConnell released a statement via Facebook. 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. Thats going to be our goal and I think we can do it at GCU.. She has tremendous character, is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student-athletes. Miller is considered the top NCAA Division II women's coach in the . 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. She was studying to become a nurse. 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 enters the 2022-23 season with an .866 winning percentage, second highest among active Division I head coaches, .19 behind UConns Geno Auriemma. 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. 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.