Harry Miller (basketball, born 1927)

Harry Eugene Miller (January 26, 1927 – February 13, 2013) was an American college basketball coach. He spent 34 years as a head coach for Western State (now Western Colorado University), Fresno State, Eastern New Mexico, North Texas, Wichita State and Stephen F. Austin.

Harry Miller
Miller in his sole season at North Texas
Biographical details
Born(1927-01-26)January 26, 1927
Brown County, Indiana
DiedFebruary 13, 2013(2013-02-13) (aged 86)
Nacogdoches, Texas
Playing career
?–1951Eastern New Mexico
Position(s)Center
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1952–1953House HS
1953–1958Western State
1958–1960New Mexico (assistant)
1960–1965Fresno State
1965–1970Eastern New Mexico
1970–1971North Texas
1971–1978Wichita State
1978–1988Stephen F. Austin
Head coaching record
Overall534–374
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
NAIA Tournament (1969)
MVC regular season (1976)
2 LSC regular season (1981, 1982)
Gulf Star regular season (1987)
Awards
2× Gulf Star Coach of the Year (1986, 1987)
2× LSC Coach of the Year (1982, 1983)

Miller played college basketball at Eastern New Mexico as a 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) center, graduating in 1951. He began his coaching career at House High School in New Mexico before getting his first college head coaching job at Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado. In six seasons at Western, he compiled a record of 84 wins and 64 losses. He then moved to Division I New Mexico in 1958 as an assistant on Bob Sweeney's staff.[1] After two seasons he moved to a successful five-year stint at Fresno State where he led the then-Division II Bulldogs to four consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) titles from 1962 to 1965 and a record of 96–40.[2][3]

Miller was lured back to Eastern New Mexico to take over the head coaching role of his alma mater upon the recommendation of his former coach, Al Garten following Garten's retirement.[4] In five seasons, Miler led the Greyhounds to a 104–35 record and the 1969 NAIA National Championship behind All-American Greg Hyder.[5] The following year, Miller and Hyder led the Greyhounds back to the Final Four. Miller parlayed this success in that offseason to his first Division I coaching job, at North Texas.[6] Following a 10-15 1970–71 season, Miller moved to Wichita State, citing better salary and facilities as reasons for the quick move.[7] Miller led the Shockers to a 97–90 record over seven seasons (including a Missouri Valley Conference title in 1976) before being fired in 1978 due to declining attendance for the program.[8]

Miller spent the next ten seasons as head coach at Stephen F. Austin, compiling a record of 170–112. During his time there, the Lumberjacks made the transition to Division I, winning the program's first Division I conference championship in the 1986–87 season. Miller died on February 13, 2013 in Nacogdoches, Texas at age 86.[9][10]

References
  1. "Coloradoan named NM cage assistant". The Santa Fe New Mexican. April 30, 1958. p. 12. Retrieved July 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "UNM aide appointed coach at Fresno State". Albuquerque Journal. August 10, 1960. p. 17. Retrieved July 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Miller resigns Fresno State hoops post". The Fresno Bee. May 5, 1965. p. 40. Retrieved July 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Old Greyhound coming back to ENMU cage wars". Alamogordo Daily News. May 6, 1965. p. 2. Retrieved July 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Eastern New Mexico defeats Maryland St. for NAIA title". The Town Talk. March 16, 1969. p. 39. Retrieved July 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "North Texas names Miller cage coach". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. April 19, 1970. p. 35. Retrieved July 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Miller quits post as NT cage coach". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. March 21, 1971. p. 33. Retrieved July 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Wichita State fires H. Miller". Beatrice Daily Sun. March 9, 1978. p. 4. Retrieved July 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Former SFA Hoops Coach Harry Miller Passes Away". Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks. February 14, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  10. "Harry Eugene Miller obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
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