Miller using 'football method' to build his coaching staff
MBB: The Racer head coach is having certain coaches focus on their specializations
As Ryan Miller continues to build out his first staff at Murray State, relationships were a key attribute in finding coaches he wanted to hire.
“I had to have guys I knew and trust,” Miller said. “I’ve known Mardracus Wade since I recruited him at New Mexico when he was 15 years old. I knew Cullen Neal, I worked with his dad in New Mexico. I’ve known these guys for many, many years. It's getting guys I trust, and then obviously getting like-minded people that understand how we're going to do things, philosophy-wise, offense, defensively, player development-wise. Most importantly, it's like putting together a puzzle, it's like putting together a team.”
In recent years, Creighton Head Coach Greg McDermott has appointed coaches on his staff as offensive and defensive coordinators. While working for McDermott for four years, Miller filled both of those roles, and he’s bringing that relatively unique way of coaching, at least for basketball programs, to Murray State.
“We do things a little bit different than most staffs,” Miller said. “We really do the football method, which is offense, defense and special teams. I wanted to get a defensive guy, which I already had with Coach (Brendan) Mullins. I wanted to get an offensive guy. I haven't quite hired that yet, but we're going to hire someone here shortly, but Coach Neal is going to be in that role supporting that.
(Note: Since this interview two weeks ago, Miller has reportedly hired Jordan VerHulst from Memphis to join his staff, but it’s unclear if VerHulst will be the offensive coordinator Miller referenced.)
Throughout college basketball, you’re starting to see a shift toward assistant coaches taking on coordinator roles, which Miller thinks will helps his staff have a bigger daily impact on winning.
“I like the fact of individual engagement to each game,” Miller said. “Traditionally, coaching basketball, (as an assistant coach), you had a scout. I maybe had a scout vs. Drake, and then the next guy had the scout for Northern Iowa. So you'd be engaged in that scout and Drake, but when that Northern Iowa game (came up), you're not really knowing what's going on. Maybe I'm out recruiting, maybe I'm just not really paying attention. I like the overall engagement. Coach McDermott, obviously, coming from his staff, that's how he did it. I was offensive coordinator last few years. The first two years there I was actually a defensive coordinator. It keeps everybody engaged. It keeps them task oriented, which I really liked. The engagement level ramps up when you do it this way, and that's why I really like it.”
The Racers have been back on campus for about three weeks going through summer workouts. They’ll head to The Bahamas at the end of July for their international trip where they’ll get the chance to play three games.