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Women's basketball coach Molly Miller, who led Grand Canyon to a historic 32-3 March Madness season, is excited for the next chapter at Arizona State.
She was introduced on March 26 by ASU athletic director Graham Rossini and president Dr. Michael Crow.
“The cherry on top was staying here and saving Graham (Rossini) on some relocation expenses,” Miller joked. “But honestly, it was the vision that sold me. I was going to be pretty picky for my next step if I was blessed to have one. It was the vision and the commitment to athletics in women’s basketball that really made it clear that I belonged here.”
The crowd for Miller’s press conference was a who’s who in the ASU athletics world. Several notable faces included football coach Kenny Dillingham, men’s basketball coach Bobby Hurley, hockey coach Greg Powers and Pat Brock, former ASU baseball coach’s Jim Brock’s widow.
But the biggest nod of approval came from women’s basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne’s presence in the front row. Turner Thorne's 25-year tenure included becoming the winningest women's basketball coach in ASU history. She retired in 2022.
Miller made sure to thank Turner Thorne personally for helping her through the hiring process and said Turner Thorne will be a part of the program she helped shape.
“I’ve been on the phone with her often. There were like three things I asked her to do and she said, 'How can I help?' And I was like, 'Really?'” Miller said. “She was willing and able. She knows everyone. I know you all know that, but I said, 'Can you make some reference calls for me?' She did that.”
Miller added that Turner Thorne helped her connect with several alumni by putting her into group chats. Her other request is one of her favorites.
“I asked her if she could send some voice memos with recruiting nuggets that I could use. At night, I lay down and listen to CTT right before I go to bed,” Miller said.
Miller, 38, spent the last five years at GCU, transforming a program that was 15-12 the year before her arrival and fostering a winning culture that included the program’s first conference title this season.
The Lopes lost to Baylor, 73-60, in the first round of their first NCAA Tournament appearance. GCU held the nation’s longest win streak of 30 wins, which was the best record among the 64 teams in the field at 32-2.
This year's GCU team became the first in-state Division I women's basketball program to beat the other three in-state D-I teams — Arizona State, Arizona and Northern Arizona — in the same season.
All the success led to Miller quickly becoming the top target for every Power Four coaching vacancy. Miller had several options and Rossini was made aware that he needed to act quickly in case Miller decided to move on from GCU.
"We had set up an initial conversation one evening that was probably just to touch base and talk about our process and understanding what the next steps would be," Rossini said.
What then followed was a conversation that lasted over two hours and was "very fluid, natural, exciting."
"We see the world similarly and we’re very capable here at ASU that this is a destination and we’re seeing that in the success we’re having in other sports," Rossini said.
Rossini's attention to detail helped sway Miller in ASU's direction. Miller once told him, "I don’t drink coffee, this stuff runs through my veins naturally. I drink chai tea though."
When Miller made a campus visit, Rossini was waiting there with chai tea.
"I thought, 'That’s a recruiting stunt I would’ve pulled!'" Miller said. "I just think there’s similarities not only in work ethic, vision, the mission, but making people important and I really value that about Graham.”
More Sun Devils: Molly Miller leaving Grand Canyon for Arizona State women's basketball job
Miller replaces Natasha Adair, who was fired after three seasons. Adair posted a 10-22 record during the 2024-25 season, including a 3-15 mark in Big 12 Conference play. She was 29-62 (.319) overall and 7-47 (.129) in conference play (Pac-12 and Big 12 combined).
The Springfield, Missouri, native is known for her pressure defense, creating turnovers, leading to baskets. ASU had the third-worst turnover margin in the Big 12 (-1.41) last season.
Miller's coaching experience started over a decade ago at her alma mater, Drury, where she began as an assistant coach for two seasons before being elevated to interim head coach. She became the head coach nine games in with a 7-2 start.
Through six seasons, Miller led Drury to 180 wins and just 17 losses. The .914 winning percentage was the best stretch in Drury's history and the best among active NCAA coaches at the time.
Her last team at Drury was 32-0 before COVID-19 ended that season in March without a chance to win a Division II national title.
“I love what I do and I couldn’t do this without the people around me," Miller said. "That’s probably been the biggest piece of a grateful moment for me is reflecting on how I got here and who I got here with. There’s been countless coaches, student-athletes, administrators, faculty, staff that you don’t go on a journey with unless you’re with them. I’m so grateful for those moments.”
A self-described “ankle biter” during her college playing days, Miller’s fiery spirit is contagious. She’s already drawing inspiration from her peers at ASU, including Dillingham.
“I was watching Kenny’s interview and he was summing what this year was going to be and made a comment that a sailboat doesn’t sail on yesterday’s wind. And I was thinking, What would our theme or quote be for next year?” Miller said. “I started thinking about the sailboat theme and I came up with what I’m trying to revive a program and generate excitement. When there’s no wind in your sail, row. We’re going to row. We’re going to hit the ground running, we’re going to work hard and we’re going to row.”
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU women's basketball officially begins Molly Miller era
Continue reading...
She was introduced on March 26 by ASU athletic director Graham Rossini and president Dr. Michael Crow.
“The cherry on top was staying here and saving Graham (Rossini) on some relocation expenses,” Miller joked. “But honestly, it was the vision that sold me. I was going to be pretty picky for my next step if I was blessed to have one. It was the vision and the commitment to athletics in women’s basketball that really made it clear that I belonged here.”
The crowd for Miller’s press conference was a who’s who in the ASU athletics world. Several notable faces included football coach Kenny Dillingham, men’s basketball coach Bobby Hurley, hockey coach Greg Powers and Pat Brock, former ASU baseball coach’s Jim Brock’s widow.
But the biggest nod of approval came from women’s basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne’s presence in the front row. Turner Thorne's 25-year tenure included becoming the winningest women's basketball coach in ASU history. She retired in 2022.
Miller made sure to thank Turner Thorne personally for helping her through the hiring process and said Turner Thorne will be a part of the program she helped shape.
“I’ve been on the phone with her often. There were like three things I asked her to do and she said, 'How can I help?' And I was like, 'Really?'” Miller said. “She was willing and able. She knows everyone. I know you all know that, but I said, 'Can you make some reference calls for me?' She did that.”
Miller added that Turner Thorne helped her connect with several alumni by putting her into group chats. Her other request is one of her favorites.
“I asked her if she could send some voice memos with recruiting nuggets that I could use. At night, I lay down and listen to CTT right before I go to bed,” Miller said.
Miller, 38, spent the last five years at GCU, transforming a program that was 15-12 the year before her arrival and fostering a winning culture that included the program’s first conference title this season.
The Lopes lost to Baylor, 73-60, in the first round of their first NCAA Tournament appearance. GCU held the nation’s longest win streak of 30 wins, which was the best record among the 64 teams in the field at 32-2.
This year's GCU team became the first in-state Division I women's basketball program to beat the other three in-state D-I teams — Arizona State, Arizona and Northern Arizona — in the same season.
All the success led to Miller quickly becoming the top target for every Power Four coaching vacancy. Miller had several options and Rossini was made aware that he needed to act quickly in case Miller decided to move on from GCU.
"We had set up an initial conversation one evening that was probably just to touch base and talk about our process and understanding what the next steps would be," Rossini said.
What then followed was a conversation that lasted over two hours and was "very fluid, natural, exciting."
"We see the world similarly and we’re very capable here at ASU that this is a destination and we’re seeing that in the success we’re having in other sports," Rossini said.
Rossini's attention to detail helped sway Miller in ASU's direction. Miller once told him, "I don’t drink coffee, this stuff runs through my veins naturally. I drink chai tea though."
When Miller made a campus visit, Rossini was waiting there with chai tea.
"I thought, 'That’s a recruiting stunt I would’ve pulled!'" Miller said. "I just think there’s similarities not only in work ethic, vision, the mission, but making people important and I really value that about Graham.”
More Sun Devils: Molly Miller leaving Grand Canyon for Arizona State women's basketball job
Miller replaces Natasha Adair, who was fired after three seasons. Adair posted a 10-22 record during the 2024-25 season, including a 3-15 mark in Big 12 Conference play. She was 29-62 (.319) overall and 7-47 (.129) in conference play (Pac-12 and Big 12 combined).
The Springfield, Missouri, native is known for her pressure defense, creating turnovers, leading to baskets. ASU had the third-worst turnover margin in the Big 12 (-1.41) last season.
Miller's coaching experience started over a decade ago at her alma mater, Drury, where she began as an assistant coach for two seasons before being elevated to interim head coach. She became the head coach nine games in with a 7-2 start.
Through six seasons, Miller led Drury to 180 wins and just 17 losses. The .914 winning percentage was the best stretch in Drury's history and the best among active NCAA coaches at the time.
Her last team at Drury was 32-0 before COVID-19 ended that season in March without a chance to win a Division II national title.
“I love what I do and I couldn’t do this without the people around me," Miller said. "That’s probably been the biggest piece of a grateful moment for me is reflecting on how I got here and who I got here with. There’s been countless coaches, student-athletes, administrators, faculty, staff that you don’t go on a journey with unless you’re with them. I’m so grateful for those moments.”
A self-described “ankle biter” during her college playing days, Miller’s fiery spirit is contagious. She’s already drawing inspiration from her peers at ASU, including Dillingham.
“I was watching Kenny’s interview and he was summing what this year was going to be and made a comment that a sailboat doesn’t sail on yesterday’s wind. And I was thinking, What would our theme or quote be for next year?” Miller said. “I started thinking about the sailboat theme and I came up with what I’m trying to revive a program and generate excitement. When there’s no wind in your sail, row. We’re going to row. We’re going to hit the ground running, we’re going to work hard and we’re going to row.”
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU women's basketball officially begins Molly Miller era
Continue reading...
