BG's success begins with its coach
By: John Turner
Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: Sports
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After six seasons of diverting the spotlight to his players and assistant coaches, BG coach Curt Miller is the center of attention in women's college basketball these days. With all of the interest he's garnering it's hard to say whether Miller will be back to coach next season, but there are some times when it's more important to enjoy the present than to worry about the future. This is one of those times.
The Falcons are breaking record after record, earning national respect and creating a certain buzz around campus that I've never before experienced. Every class I've had this week has started out with the professor saying, "So how about those Falcons?" Women's basketball isn't supposed to generate this kind of interest, is it?
Thanks to Miller, it is.
Within a few seasons of taking over, Miller turned a downtrodden program around and into a conference contender. Over the last three seasons he's commanded a hoops juggernaut: 82-14 overall, 44-4 in the Mid-American Conference, three MAC titles and two (and counting) NCAA Tournament wins. Quietly, and without boasting, he's collected a trio of Coach of the Year awards in the process.
Still, it's hard to quantify the impact Miller has had on this campus. Virtues like pride, community and dedication are seeping from his teams' attitudes and actions. In response, thousands of fans flocked to East Lansing this past weekend, outnumbering opponents' fans at least 10-to-1 in each game, exhibiting similar qualities. There's just a different sort of mentality growing popular around here, and it's Miller who planted the seed.
From the beginning, Miller has done things the right way by recruiting only those he felt would enhance the locker room environment, not detract from it. Along the way, he's picked up players others may have looked over and helped to shape them into successful student-athletes.
Miller will tell you he could never have done it alone, and he is right. Joined by Miller are Jennifer Roos, Brandi Poole and Kevin Eckert, all of which have been here at least five years and have been instrumental in recruiting the current cast of players.
The Falcons are breaking record after record, earning national respect and creating a certain buzz around campus that I've never before experienced. Every class I've had this week has started out with the professor saying, "So how about those Falcons?" Women's basketball isn't supposed to generate this kind of interest, is it?
Thanks to Miller, it is.
Within a few seasons of taking over, Miller turned a downtrodden program around and into a conference contender. Over the last three seasons he's commanded a hoops juggernaut: 82-14 overall, 44-4 in the Mid-American Conference, three MAC titles and two (and counting) NCAA Tournament wins. Quietly, and without boasting, he's collected a trio of Coach of the Year awards in the process.
Still, it's hard to quantify the impact Miller has had on this campus. Virtues like pride, community and dedication are seeping from his teams' attitudes and actions. In response, thousands of fans flocked to East Lansing this past weekend, outnumbering opponents' fans at least 10-to-1 in each game, exhibiting similar qualities. There's just a different sort of mentality growing popular around here, and it's Miller who planted the seed.
From the beginning, Miller has done things the right way by recruiting only those he felt would enhance the locker room environment, not detract from it. Along the way, he's picked up players others may have looked over and helped to shape them into successful student-athletes.
Miller will tell you he could never have done it alone, and he is right. Joined by Miller are Jennifer Roos, Brandi Poole and Kevin Eckert, all of which have been here at least five years and have been instrumental in recruiting the current cast of players.
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