Ryan Miller - Men's Basketball Coach - Murray State University Athletics

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

Ryan Miller

Title:
Head Coach

RYAN MILLER - HEAD MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH
Hometown	Mitchell, S.D.
Alma Mater	Northern State (2000)
Spouse	Marna
Children	Melia, Halle
CAREER EXPERIENCE
Year	School, Position
Present	Murray State, Head Coach
2021-25	Creighton, Assistant Coach/Associate Head Coach
2016-21	TCU, Assistant Coach/Associate Head Coach
2014-16	UNLV, Assistant/Associate Head Coach
2012-14	Auburn, Associate Head Coach
2007-12	New Mexico, Assistant Coach
2006-07	Pepperdine, Assistant Coach
2003-06	Memphis, Director of Operations

Ryan Miller, who is regarded as one of the nation's top recruiters and boasts a winning pedigree that included stops at Creighton, TCU, Auburn and others, was named the 18th head coach of the Murray State men's basketball program on March 17, 2025.

Miller, who previously served as the top assistant for the Creighton Bluejays, has coached in eight NCAA Tournaments, won five regular-season championships and has one league tournament title on the sidelines over the course of his career.

He is regarded as one of the top recruiters in the country, having assembled multiple top-15 recruiting classes nationally throughout his tenure. He has also developed numerous NBA standouts, including Desmond Bane, Derrick Jones, Baylor Scheierman, Christian Wood, Rashad Vaughn, and Patrick McCaw.

During his tenure at Creighton, Miller helped guide the Bluejays the Big East Championship game in 2024-25 and to four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Sweet Sixteen showings and a visit to the Elite 8.

Running the Bluejays' offense in 2024-25, he helped coach three players who earned Big East All-Conference honors, including Ryan Kalkbrenner, who finished with First Team honors and was named the Defensive Player of the Year in the league. The team was one of the best shooting programs nationally, ranking second in the Big East and 47^th nationally in field goal percentage (41.2).

Miller helped CU secure the nation's No. 7 recruiting class shortly after arriving on campus in the spring of 2021. That group ultimately included three members of the BIG EAST's All-Freshman team -- Trey Alexander, Ryan Nembhard and Arthur Kaluma. The 2024 class was another Top 20 haul.

Miller oversaw a Bluejay defense that ranked 19th-best nationally per KenPom in 2021-22, and 14th in 2022-23 before coordinating CU's No. 9 offense last season.

Prior to his arrival in Omaha, Miller spent five seasons at TCU as an assistant coach (2016-18) and as an assistant head coach (2018-21). The Horned Frogs reached the postseason three times with Miller on staff, including a 2018 NCAA Tournament trip that was the program's first bid to the Big Dance in 20 seasons. TCU's nine Big 12 wins that season remain a program record.

In Miller's first campaign as an assistant coach at TCU, the Horned Frogs improved from 12 wins to 24 victories and claimed the 2017 NIT title. TCU's 24 victories were tied for the second-most in program history.

Before his time in Fort Worth, Miller was part of a UNLV staff that landed the nation's No. 11 and No. 5 ranked recruiting classes in 2015 and 2014, respectively.

During his time at UNLV, Miller developed and coached Rashad Vaughn, who was selected No. 17 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2015 NBA Draft. A 2014 McDonald's All-American and five-star recruit, Vaughn was ranked as high as No. 8 nationally coming out of Findlay College Prep. He was named Mountain West Freshman of the Year at UNLV after averaging 17.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.

Miller was named the fourth-best recruiter outside the Power 5 while at UNLV by ESPN's Jeff Borzello and Adam Finkelstein and had a hand in the Rebels garnering commitments from two Top-100 signees in 2015 in five-star Stephen Zimmerman, who was rated the nation's No. 12 player by ESPN, and Derrick Jones, a four-star recruit who was ranked in the top-50 nationally. Another notable student-athlete during Miller's stay at UNLV was Christian Wood, who played for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Miller has also been an assistant coach at Auburn, New Mexico, Pepperdine and Memphis.

Prior to his time at UNLV, Miller spent two years as an associate head coach at Auburn between 2012-14. Before that, Miller served five seasons as an assistant coach at New Mexico under Steve Alford. During his tenure, the Lobos went 126-46 overall and made five consecutive postseason trips, including a pair of NCAA Tournament berths. New Mexico also won two regular-season Mountain West Conference Championships and one league tournament crown. Miller spent 2006-07 as an assistant coach at Pepperdine before joining the New Mexico staff.

He began his college coaching career as the video coordinator and Assistant Director of Basketball Operations at Memphis under John Calipari between 2003-06. During his three years with the Tigers, Memphis compiled a 77-28 record and appeared in three postseasons, including two NCAA Tournament trips. In 2006, Miller aided in guiding the Tigers to the Sweet 16. Among those he worked with while at Memphis is current Creighton assistant Derek Kellogg.

Miller attended Northern State, where he was a two-time Northern Sun All-Conference selection and finished his career eighth on Northern State's all-time scoring list after leading his teams to four-straight league championships and the 1998 regional title. He was named a Division II All-American and an Academic All-NSIC member as a senior in 1997-98 and earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Northern State in 2000.

Miller was drafted by the CBA in 1999 and played professionally for the Fargo-Moorhead Beez of the International Basketball Association. He also saw action for the Dakota Gold of the IBA where he served as player/assistant coach during the 2000-01 campaign.

Miller attended Mitchell High School where he was a two-time All-State pick and led the school to the 1994 state championship.

Miller and his wife Marna have two daughters, Melia and Halle. His brother, Mike, played 17 years in the NBA and was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 2001 and the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2006. Mike also won back-to-back NBA Championships with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Greg McDermott | Head Coach – Creighton
"I could not be more excited for Ryan and for Murray State. Ryan has been instrumental in our sustained success at Creighton. His passion for the game and unrelenting competitiveness has served our student-athletes well during his tenure on the Bluejay sideline. I can't wait to cheer him on from afar as he builds a championship level program for the Racers."

Fran Fraschilla | ESPN College Basketball Analyst
"Ryan Miller is a rising coaching star who has prepared diligently to be the head coach at one of the country's historically winningest basketball programs, Murray State. His passion, work ethic, pedigree and enthusiasm will fit perfectly in the Racer basketball community. I am excited for him."

John Calipari | Head Coach – Arkansas
"Ryan Miller is one of the hardest-working coaches I've ever had the pleasure of working with. His passion for the game, combined with his tireless commitment to his players' growth, sets him apart. He's a brilliant strategist and an even better mentor—he's someone who elevates everyone around him. Murray State is getting a leader who will not only guide their program to new heights but will also instill a culture of excellence that will last for years to come."

Steve Alford | Head Coach – Nevada
I’m so happy for Coach Miller. He is fully prepared for the next journey. He has been highly successful on every staff he has been a part of. He is a tireless worker who builds incredible relationships with his players and has a great feel for the game and does it all with the highest degree of character. This is a wonderful fit, and I wish Coach Miller and MSU all the best of success.

Jamie Dixon | Head Coach – TCU
Ryan Miller has been ready to be a head coach for a while. He loves the game of basketball, the student-athletes that he coaches, as well as the mission of the Universities that he has served. His patience was rewarded with a traditional basketball power with those same characteristics in Murray State. This is a perfect match.

Desmond Bane | Memphis Grizzlies
Coach Ryan Miller is a tireless worker, and I credit a lot of my player development at TCU to Coach Miller. He is going to do great things at Murray State.

Baylor Scheierman |Boston Celtics
I am excited for Coach Miller and for Murray State. Coach Miller brings an elite level of focus and energy to his teams every day, and I know he will do the same at Murray State. I am excited for the future of Racer Basketball.

Trey Alexander | Denver Nuggets
I’m very excited for Coach Miller and his new journey at Murray State. He is the epitome of an everyday guy and will boost Murray State to new heights. There is no doubt he will bring his championship DNA to Racer Nation.