University of South Carolina Aiken Athletic Director Randy Warrick is pleased to announce the hiring of Mark Miller as the head women’s basketball coach effective July 1.
“We had six outstanding candidates on campus and it was a tough decision, but Mark Miller was the best fit for USC Aiken,” Warrick said.
“Mark is a proven winner every place he has been,” Warrick stated. “He has reached the postseason 10 straight seasons as a head coach and has led his teams to seven NCAA Tournament berths. Mark will come in and do a great job for us. He will also be a great fit in the community.”
“There was tremendous interest in this position, so right from the start this was an highly competitive search,” USC Aiken’s Chancellor Dr. Sandra Jordan stated. “From a pool of excellent and experienced coaches, we hired the best individual for this job. Our players and fans are going to enjoy Coach Miller’s energy and enthusiasm. His record of winning games against tough opponents speaks for itself, but I was equally impressed by his deep concern for the success of each player on and off the court. We’re thrilled to have him out in front of the Pacers and we look forward to working closely with him.”
“I’m really excited about the opportunity,” Miller said. “USC Aiken is a great place. Aiken is a great fit for my family. I’m excited about everything the school and community presents.
“I’m appreciative and thankful for Dr. Sandra Jordan, Randy Warrick, Angie Osbon and everyone else that was part of the interview process. I enjoyed meeting the team and I’m excited to get settled and get started.”
Miller comes to USC Aiken from Holy Family University. There, he guided his teams to three CACC Tournament Championships and six NCAA Tournament appearances. During the 2011-12 season, Miller led his team to the NCAA East Region Championship game. Collectively, he guided Holy Family to two region championship games, three NCAA East Region semifinal berths and an NCAA Tournament first round bid.
In his first season with the Tigers, his squad went 30-3, reached the NCAA Division II East Region final and finished the season ranked No. 13 in the USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches Poll. Miller’s team led Division II in scoring defense, allowing a mere 51.5 points per game. The Tigers were second in rebounding margin (+12.1), sixth in field-goal defense (33.7 percent), seventh in free-throw percentage (78.0 percent) and 10th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.15).
Miller arrived at Holy Family after a three-year stint as the women’s basketball head coach at Division III Norwich University in Vermont. Under his guidance, the Cadets went 54-25 and made appearances in three consecutive Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) post-season tournaments and one NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. In 2006-07, Norwich posted a 24-win season (24-4).
Prior to Norwich, Miller logged nine seasons at the Division I level. He spent the 2005-06 season as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Miller served for four seasons as the associate head women’s basketball coach at Loyola (Md.) College. From 1998 to 2001, Miller was as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets qualified for the NIT in 2000 and 2001. His collegiate coaching career started in the 1991-92 season when he was an assistant coach at Mount St. Mary’s for the first time.
Miller was also a very accomplished high school basketball coach, serving two stints as head girl’s coach at Middletown (Md.) High School. In 11 seasons, he led the Knights to two Maryland State titles (1989 and 1993) and 237 victories. Middletown was also state tournament runners-up three times and won six regional titles under Miller’s guidance. He was tabbed as the Frederick County Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1995.
In 10 seasons as a head coach at the collegiate level, Miller has a 223-74 record. He has six 20-win seasons, including a career-high 30 wins during the 2009-10 campaign.
Miller is a 1997 graduate of Shepherd University with a bachelor of arts in general studies.
http://pacersports.com/sports/wbkb/2015-16/releases/20160607p4nk0h
Photo Courtesy USC Aiken Athletics
Tagged with: DII Mark Miller PBC USC-Aiken
