Miami women’s basketball announced Thursday the hiring of Murriel Page as assistant coach. Page comes to The U after two years in the same role at Mississippi State.
“I cannot express how excited I am to join Coach Cullop and her staff at the University of Miami,” Page said. “Having witnessed the winning culture that Coach Cullop built at Toledo, I am confident that she will continue the winning tradition at Miami. I’m eager to work with the phenomenal coaching staff that she’s assembled and I’m excited for the journey ahead of us.”
Page brings a decorated career as a student-athlete, professional player and coach to Miami, having played in the WNBA for 11 seasons before beginning her collegiate coaching career in 2010.
The Louin, Miss., native helped Bay Springs High School to two Mississippi state championships before going on to play at the University of Florida. Page finished her time at UF with the second-most points in program history (1,915), while also grabbing 1,251 boards. In 2009 she was inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a “Gator Great.” An All-American honoree, Page was a finalist for Associated Press National Player of the Year.
“She is an incredible person and household name in this state,” head coach Tricia Cullop said. “Not only did she play at Florida, but she played professionally at the WNBA level and overseas for over a decade. We have a lot of players on our current roster, as well as recruits, that want to be professional athletes, and what better person to come in and mentor them than someone that has been in those shoes. She’s going to be an extremely valuable addition to our staff, on and off the court.”
Page was selected third overall in the first round of the 1998 WNBA draft by the Washington Mystics. She would play eight seasons in Washington and three more seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks before entering the collegiate coaching ranks in 2010 as an assistant at Florida. While in Gainesville, the Gators made three NCAA Tournaments, turning in five 20-plus win seasons and eight all-Southeastern Conference (SEC) honorees. Jennifer George and Ronni Williams both earned WNBA selections during her time at UF.
From 2017-20, Page helped Central Michigan to a 78-20 record as an assistant coach, seeing the Chippewas to four Mid-American Conference Championships, two NCAA Tournaments and a 78-20 overall record. Tinara Moore, Reyna Frost and Micaela Kelly all earned MAC Player of the Year honors during her time, with Moore and Frost being honored with All-America status.
Page made her first stop in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during 2020, working as an assistant under Nell Fortner at Georgia Tech through the 2022 season. She would make an appearance in the Sweet 16 with the Yellow Jackets in 2021. While at GT, Page helped coach forward Lorella Cubaj to consecutive ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Cubaj would go on to be selected at No. 18 in the 2022 WNBA Draft.
In two years at Mississippi State (2022-24) she would help bring a team to at least two wins in the NCAA Tournament once again as the No. 11-seeded Bulldogs defeated No. 11 Illinois and No. 6 Creighton to emerge out of the First Four in 2023. Page worked closely with two All-SEC honorees in Jessika Carter and Debreasha Powe. Carter would go on to be the 23rd pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. A stellar recruiter, Page helped Mississippi State sign the nation’s 16th-ranked recruiting class in 2023.
“Murriel will also be the assistant Olympic coach for the Canadian national team this summer,” Cullop said. “In addition to her illustrious career as a basketball player and assistant coach, it’s nice to know that with Murriel and Danielle (Page), we have two Olympic coaches on our staff.”
Page also represented the United States in the 1997 Jones Cup, helping the U.S. to a silver medal. A 1998 graduate of Florida, Page earned her bachelor’s degree in sports and exercise science.
Page at a Glance
- Mississippi State (2022-24) – Assistant Coach
- Georgia Tech (2020-22) – Assistant Coach
- Central Michigan (2018-20) – Assistant Coach
- Florida (2010-17) – Assistant Coach
- Los Angeles Sparks (2006-08) – Player
- Washington Mystics (1998-05) – Player
- Florida (1994-98) – Student-Athlete
- 11-year WNBA playing career
- Two-time All-SEC First Team (1997, 98), finalist for the AP National Player of the Year award, Wade Trophy and Naismith Player of the Year
- Helped coach three MAC Players of the Year at Central Michigan
- Coached WNBA draft picks in Jennifer George and Ronni Williams while at UF
- Coached 2024 WNBA draft pick Jessika Carter while at Mississippi State
https://miamihurricanes.com/news/2024/05/02/murriel-page-joins-miami-as-assistant-coach/
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