Tempe – After a successful tenure at Grand Canyon University, Arizona State women’s basketball head coach Molly Miller is looking to turn this Sun Devils squad into a monster the valley has never seen before.
Prior to Miller’s tenure at GCU, the Antelopes struggled, posting a 38-46 record over the previous three seasons. Miller arrived, and everything flipped upside down. Over her five seasons at Grand Canyon, her teams went 117-38 with the former Drury coach leading the Antalopes to their first-ever WAC championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.
Miller’s high-pressure defense is what propelled GCU to the next level; it was nationally ranked in some category on the opposing side of the ball. In 2021-2022, they were 3rd in the county in steals per game, 4th in the 2022-2023 season. In 2024, they ranked 19th in scoring defense. A year later, Miller’s unit went on an absolute tear, with a 30-game win streak.
Her passion and energy for basketball is matched by few, and has been since she first fell in love with the game at the age of eight years old.
“She has tremendous character,” GCU vice president of athletics Jammie Boggs said upon Miller’s arrival to her former school. “She is passionate about her faith and will be a wonderful leader for our student athletes.”
Miller lives for electricity. She was a key piece in bringing in fans to support her squad; on November 30, 2022, GCU recorded its highest attendance in women’s basketball history, competing in front of 6,019 fans against Arizona State.
Much like when she inherited the head coaching position at GCU, the Sun Devils have been in a rough patch, posting a record of 29-62 over the past three seasons.
Miller’s recruiting ability has flown under the radar compared to coaches in similar positions. Miller brought in a hefty amount of names, including senior guard and former national champion Last-Tear Poa.
“I think in the portal we became the school of choice, and now in recruiting this ‘26 class, we are the school of choice,” Miller said. “We’re in the conversation now with these top 25 teams, we’re going to hear ASU on these lists.”
Miller makes sure to have a great connection with her players, on and off the court. A big part of this is the initiatives she takes to make sure not only she, but the coaching staff is well cemented with the team. These include activities ranging from inviting her players to spend time at her house, to what she likes to call Fall Fun Groups, where 4 groups of the student-athletes on the team rotate amongst the coaches.
“Sometimes I see more in them than what they see in themselves,” Miller said. “We’re not going to take shortcuts, we’re not going to take the easy way, we are going to be disciplined, and focus on the details.”
