Mitchell native Ryan Miller ‘checked all the boxes’ to become new head coach at Murray State – Mitchell Republic

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MURRAY, Ky. — Murray State University athletic director Nico Yantko said Thursday that his men’s basketball coaching search was looking for a number of boxes to check to lead the Racers.

That included a coach with tenacious competitiveness, a proven winner, a relentless recruiter and someone who built positive relationships nationally.

Ryan Miller checked all of those boxes and the longtime college basketball assistant has scored his first head coach job with the Racers in the Missouri Valley Conference. Miller, 49, was formally introduced as the newest men’s basketball coach at Murray State on Thursday.

The 1994 Mitchell High School graduate has worked for a “who’s who list” in college basketball in his 20-plus-year Division I coaching career, including John Calipari, Steve Alford, Tony Barbee, Jamie Dixon and most recently, four seasons as the lead assistant coach under Greg McDermott at Creighton University. The Bluejays have won an NCAA tournament game in each of the last four seasons, including reaching the Elite Eight in 2023.

“Coming from Creighton, I’ve seen what it takes to succeed. And I’m ready to bring that championship mentality to Murray,” Miller said in his introductory press conference. “We’ll play fast, we’ll play smart, and we’ll play together. I’m committed to recruiting talented, high-character players who are eager to wear the blue and gold and leave their mark here at Murray.”

“His resume and his credentials, his pedigree, speak for itself,” Yantko said. “He has a unique draw that really pulls you in, gravitates you in, that draws you into Ryan the person.”

Known as the program that produced Ja Morant and Cameron Payne, the Racers have a proud history. Murray State has been in the NCAA tournament five times since 2010, winning a first-round game in 2012, 2019 and 2022.

Murray State had nine straight coaching tenures with at least a 60% win percentage until Steve Prohm’s Racers…

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Source link : https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/sports/college/mitchell-native-ryan-miller-checked-all-the-boxes-to-become-new-head-coach-at-murray-state

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Publish date : 2025-03-27 23:53:00

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