Kathy McConnell-Miller has been named the associate head coach for the women’s basketball program at the University of Pittsburgh. The former Pitt assistant coach will join her sister Suzie McConnell-Serio, who was named head coach on April 12.
McConnell-Miller has served the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock. She was responsible for scouting and player development, among other duties.
Prior to the Shock, McConnell-Miller was the head coach at the University of Colorado from 2005-2010. She guided the Buffaloes to a postseason berth and 19 wins during the 2007-08 season, their first postseason action over a four-year span. That same year, the team earned its first national ranking in four seasons.
The Pittsburgh native spent six seasons as the head coach at the University of Tulsa, spearheading an effort which saw the squad post its first winning season in 14 years. McConnell-Miller left the school as the program’s all-time wins leader, collecting WAC Coach of the Year honors in 2000. The Golden Hurricanes had back-to-back WNIT postseason appearances in 2004 and 2005.
Under her tutelage, Tulsa placed at least one player on a WAC all-conference squad in each of her six seasons and had four players earn ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District honors and 25 student-athletes recognized by the WAC for their achievement in the classroom.
McConnell-Miller was an assistant under Hall of Fame coach Theresa Grentz at the University of Illinois for four seasons (1995-99), serving as associate head coach her final campaign. The Fighting Illini advanced to three NCAA Tournaments on her watch, twice appearing in the NCAA Sweet 16 round. She was also vital in the signing of a pair of top-five recruiting classes.
The stint at Illinois was McConnell-Miller’s second with Grentz as she was also on her staff at Rutgers University for two seasons. Her final recruiting class for the Knights ranked 14th-best in the country.
McConnell-Miller’s first coaching stop was at Pitt, where she served as recruiting coordinator under former coach Kirk Bruce. Bruce’ daughter Carmen is a current assistant coach on the Pitt women’s basketball staff.
McConnell-Miller is no stranger to the ACC, having played collegiately at the University of Virginia (1985-89). The Cavaliers earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament in each year she played, including two trips to the Sweet 16 and a showing in the 1988 Elite Eight. McConnell-Miller earned her bachelor’s degree in rhetoric and communications from UVA in 1989.
McConnell-Miller and husband, Brad, have three children: Brice (13), Mackenzie (11), and Macie (8).
She starred at Seton-La Salle High School alongside Suzie, helping the team capture the 1984 state title. In total, six of the eight McConnell siblings attended college on a basketball scholarship.
McConnell-Miller is a member of the Western Pennsylvania Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Seton La Salle High School Hall of Fame.
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