Miller leaves BGSU, hired by Indiana

Updated: Wednesday, 28 Mar 2012, 9:18 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 28 Mar 2012, 5:23 PM EDT

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (WUPW) - Curt Miller has resigned from Bowling Green State University after 11 years at the school and was hired as Indiana University's new women's basketball coach.

“This is a bittersweet moment that we knew would come eventually,” BGSU Director of Athletics Greg Christopher told FOX Toledo media partner The Sentinel-Tribune. "Curt transformed women’s basketball here at Bowling Green. As much as our department and the community will miss him, we are also thrilled for Curt as he takes this new challenge."

“Bowling Green women’s basketball is now recognizable nationwide and our goal is to build on the tradition of excellence," added Christopher. "Finding a new leader for our student-athletes is our top priority. We will begin a national search for our new head coach immediately."

MORE: What basketball world is saying about Miller and Indiana U

The move at the B1G Ten school in Blooomington comes a little more than two weeks after Hoosiers athletic director Fred Glass fired Felisha Legette-Jack following a 6-24 season and a third straight year without a postseason appearance.

Miller and Indiana agreed to a six-year contract, which will pay the former Falcon coach $275,000 annually.

Miller compiled a 258-92 overall record and and a Mid-American Conference record of 135-41 in 11 seasons with the Falcons.

BGSU became a perennial postseason team under Miller's leadership. The Lady Falcons won an unprecedented eight-straight MAC divisional titles over the last eight seasons, with seven outright league regular-season crowns during that span. The school hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA women's tournament last week at the newly opened Stroh Center.

After Miller guided BGSU to the 2011 MAC tournament championship, he was named a finalist for the then-women's basketball vacancy at New Mexico. The Lobos went in another direction and Miller stayed as BGSU women’s basketball coach.

The 2007 season saw the Falcons win two games to make the first trip to the "Sweet Sixteen" in MAC women’s basketball history. BGSU participated in the WNIT in 2008, 2009 and 2012.

The 44-year-old was named MAC Coach of the Year a league-record six times, including in 2012, and he also earned Russell Athletic/WBCA Region 4 Coach-of-the-Year accolades on four occasions, with the most recent honor coming last week.

He won his 250th game with the Falcons on Jan. 22. During the game, though, he suffered a mild stroke and took a brief leave of absence from coaching.

On Monday Miller, along with University of Toledo women's basketball coach Tricia Cullop, were both rumored to be at the top of Illinois' and Indiana's wish lists.

Following Miller's hire at Indiana, the University of Illinois hired Matt Bollant, who was lured away from Wisconsin-Green Bay after five seasons.

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FOX Toledo media partner The Sentinel-Tribune, Sports Director Howard Chen and reporter Joe Rychnovsky and the Associated Press contributed to this report.