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Author: Dave Riggert

Missouri’s Cunningham named Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award finalist

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball junior Sophie Cunningham was named as one of the final 10 candidates for the 2018 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award. Named after the three-time Naismith Player of the Year, the annual award in its inaugural year recognizes the top small forwards in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball.

Cunningham is putting together her best season yet, captaining Mizzou to a No. 15 ranking. The junior is averaging a team-high 18.4 points per game, reaching double figures 18 times in 20 games and scoring at least 20 points on nine different occasions, including three times in the last four games.

Cunningham already ranks 13th on Mizzou’s all-time scoring list with 1,356 points and counting. That’s the fifth-most among active SEC players and she is the only player in the top five on that list that is not a senior. Cunningham is the only player in the nation shooting at least 84 percent from the free throw line, 45 percent from the three-point range and 54 percent from the field.

In November, Cunningham was named as one of 20 preseason candidates for the Cheryl Miller award and is now just one of two SEC players on the 2018 Cheryl Miller Award watch list. The Selection Committee for the Cheryl Miller Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.

In March, five finalists will be presented to Ms. Miller and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist at www.hoophallawards.com. The winner of the 2018 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award will be announced during ESPN2’s telecast of the national semifinal games in the 2018 NCAA Women’s Final Four in Columbus, Ohio on Friday, March 30.

For more information on the 2018 Cheryl Miller Award, visit www.hoophallawards.com.

2018 Cheryl Miller Award Candidates
Gabby Williams Connecticut
Shakayla Thomas Florida St.
Jill Barta Gonzaga
Bridget Carleton Iowa St.
Kaila Charles Maryland
Sophie Cunningham Missouri
Jaime Nared Tennessee
Ariel Atkins Texas
Teana Muldrow West Virginia
Tashia Brown Western Kentucky

Mizzou faces No. 2 Mississippi State on Thursday on the SEC Network. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CT at Mizzou Arena.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Chiefs agree to trade quarterback Alex Smith to Redskins

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Kansas City has agreed to trade quarterback Alex Smith to Washington, a move that spells the end of Kirk Cousins’ time with the Redskins and hands the Chiefs’ job to Patrick Mahomes.

Two people with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed the move to The Associated Press on Tuesday night on condition of anonymity because the transaction can’t be completed until the start of the new league year in March. One person told the AP the Redskins had agreed to a four-year extension with Smith, who had one year left on his contract.

Smith, who turns 34 in May, spent the past five seasons with the Chiefs, leading them to the playoffs four times while throwing for 102 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. He carries a $17 million salary-cap hit for 2018.

Kansas City saves cap space and can turn to Mahomes, the 10th pick in last year’s draft out of Texas Tech, as its new starter.

Smith becomes the franchise quarterback for Washington after throwing for 31,888 yards and 183 touchdowns in 12 NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and Chiefs.

The Redskins acquired Smith and signed him to the kind of long-term deal they balked at with Cousins, who became the first QB to play back-to-back seasons on the franchise tag. Cousins can become a free agent next month at age 29.

Cousins, drafted by the Redskins in the fourth round out of Michigan State in 2012 — the same year they traded up to take Robert Griffin III with the No 2 pick — likely leaves Washington with the fourth-most passing yards in franchise history, more than 16,000.

Under coach Jay Gruden, Cousins became the first Redskins QB to start all 16 games for three consecutive seasons. He threw for at least 4,000 yards in each, while totaling 81 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. But Washington only played in one playoff game during that span, going 9-7, 8-7-1 and, most recently, 7-9 in Cousins’ time as a starter.

Cousins has been the biggest question hovering over Washington’s offseason — and, indeed, hovering over the whole organization for a couple of years as the team failed to sign him to a long-term deal.

According to ESPN, Washington is sending a third-round draft and cornerback Kendall Fuller to Kansas City in the trade, which cannot be finalized until March 14. The Kansas City Star first reported the deal.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western picked second in preseason MIAA softball poll

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With a little more than one week before the first pitch of the 2018 season, the Missouri Western softball team was picked second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

Missouri Western received 140 total points in the poll, 29 fewer than defending regular and postseason champion Central Oklahoma. The Griffons were five points ahead of Northwest Missouri which received one first place vote.

The Griffons return six position players and two pitchers from the 2017 team that went 38-20 overall and finished fourth in the MIAA with a 16-10 conference record. Top returners include 2017 second team All-MIAA shortstop Shelbie Atwell; 2017 honorable mention All-MIAA catcher Rebekah Mueller; 2017 honorable mention All-MIAA outfielder Shelby Uhl; and 2017 honorable mention All-MIAA pitcher Barbara Billingsley.

Jen Bagley Trotter’s squad is coming off four-straight NCAA regional tournament appearances and 10 in the last 13 seasons. The three-time MIAA Coach of the Year has led the Griffon softball program to seven-straight 35-plus win seasons. At 573-329 entering her 17th year as the Griffon softball head coach, Trotter is second all-time among MIAA head coaches in wins. Only former Missouri Western and Central Missouri head coach Rhesa Sumrell (614) has more.

The 2018 Missouri Western softball season begins Feb. 10 in Bentonville, Arkansas, where the Griffons will play four games in two days as part of the Arkansas Monticello Division II Challenge.

2018 MIAA PRESEASON SOFBALL POLL
1. Central Oklahoma (13) – 169 points
2. Missouri Western – 140 points
3. Northwest Missouri (1) – 135 points
4. Central Missouri – 133 points
5. Southwest Baptist – 114 points
T6. Emporia State – 101 points
T6. Missouri Southern – 101 points
8. Pittsburg State – 95 points
9. Northeastern State – 73 points
10. Washburn – 71 points
11. Lindenwood – 53 points
12. Fort Hays State – 43 points
13. Nebraska Kearney – 30 points
14. Lincoln – 16 points

— MWSU Athletics —

Missouri State loses at home to Illinois State 76-60

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Milik Yarbrough and Keyshawn Evans scored 15 points apiece as Illinois State had five in double-figure scoring to cruise to a 76-60 victory over Missouri State on Tuesday night.

The Redbirds (12-11, 6-5 Missouri Valley Conference) have won two straight and swept Missouri State (15-9, 5-6).

Yarbrough was just 4 of 13 from the field, but made 6 of 8 free throws and had a game-high six assists. Evans was 5-of-15 shooting and made three 3-pointers. Taylor Bruninga added 13 points for the Redbirds. Madison Williams had 12 points and Phil Fayne chipped in 11.

Alize Johnson had 12 points and 10 rebounds to lead Missouri State, which shot 21 of 65 from the field and missed 19 3-pointers. Mustafa Lawrence and J.T. Miller also scored 12 points each.

Illinois State never trailed and built a 30-21 halftime advantage. Evans, Bruninga and Williams each made a 3-pointer during an 11-0 surge, and the Redbirds had a 46-28 lead early in the second.

— Associated Press —

Mykhailiuk leads No. 7 Kansas to 70-56 win at Kansas State

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MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas shot the ball great against Kansas State in the first half but kept turning it over Monday night, then shot poorly in the second half but did a better job taking care of it.

The good trumped the bad enough for the Jayhawks to win both halves.

Svi Mykhailiuk had 22 points to lead four Kansas players in double-figures, and the seventh-ranked Jayhawks beat the Wildcats 70-56 to retain sole possession of the Big 12 lead.

Devonte Graham added 16 points and Malik Newman had 13 for the Jayhawks (18-4, 7-2), who celebrated the Kansas Day holiday with their seventh straight victory over their biggest conference rival.

It was the first time in four meetings the outcome was decided by more than three points — Kansas won 73-72 in Lawrence on Jan. 13.

“If you’re going to be up 13 on the road, have 12 turnovers and go 6 for 13 from the foul line, you wouldn’t think that would be the case,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said of the first half. “Somehow we were able to keep the lead and win both halves.”

Dean Wade had 20 points and eight rebounds, and Xavier Sneed scored 10 for the Wildcats (16-6, 5-4), who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Leading scorer Barry Brown was held to nine points — about half his season average — on 4-of-16 shooting and 0 for 4 from the 3-point arc.

“I told the guys we had to play better than we did in Lawrence,” Kansas State coach Bruce Weber said, “because they’re a great road team. They have good poise. They understand each other, their roles. I expected them to come at us and they did.”

The Jayhawks raced to a 15-4 lead in the opening minutes, seizing control by hitting 12 of their first 14 shots. But the turnovers quickly began to mount — at one point they had seven against six field-goal attempts- and that allowed the Wildcats to whittle into the lead.

Kansas State missed its final 11 field-goal attempts, though, as the Jayhawks switched to a zone defense. And that allowed the Jayhawks to take a 40-27 lead into the locker room.

“I think the zone slowed them down. They kind of got stagnant,” Graham said. “I think we definitely controlled the tempo with that. We work on it every day in practice just in case we need it.”

The same rim that seemed to have a lid on it for the Wildcats was just as vexing for Kansas after halftime. Kansas missed its first 11 shots, and it wasn’t until Mykhailiuk knocked down his third 3 of the game with 12:42 left that the Jayhawks finally converted from the field.

The Wildcats had problems of their own: Sneed, one of their leading scorers, spent a long stretch on the sideline as trainers tried to work out a cramp in his left leg.

Sneed eventually returned and Kansas State got the lead down to single digits several times down the stretch, closing within 59-50 when Mike McGuirl scored with 4 1/2 minutes to go.

Newman answered with a basket at the other end, and Mykhailiuk swished another 3-pointer from right in front of his own bench as the Jayhawks puffed up their cushion one more time.

“I don’t think we were in rhythm the whole game,” Wade said. “We didn’t get inside enough — there’s a lot of different things that happened that we could have done better.”

LIGHTFOOT HURT

Kansas forward Mitch Lightfoot hit his head hard on the floor while taking a charge late in the game, and he remained on the floor for several minutes. But he eventually got to his feet and walked off with some help. “They said he was fine,” Self said. “I guess he passed the protocol.”

BIG PICTURE

Kansas has been unable to put teams away after getting a big lead, and the Jayhawks let most of a 15-point advantage go away Monday. But they were able to stretch it out again down the stretch, a sign that perhaps they are finding their killer instinct.

Kansas State took the Jayhawks to the buzzer at Allen Fieldhouse, and will no doubt rue another round of missed chances in the return game. The Wildcats shut down the Jayhawks most of the second half, holding them to 26.9 percent from the floor, but were unable to pull all the way back.

UP NEXT

Kansas plays Oklahoma State on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas State heads to No. 15 West Virginia on Saturday.

— Associated Press —-

Nebraska uses big second half rally for road win at Wisconsin

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — James Palmer Jr. scored 28 points and keyed a second-half comeback, as Nebraska rallied for a 74-63 victory over Wisconsin on Monday night.

The Cornhuskers trailed by double digits midway through the second half but held the Badgers to just eight points over the final nine minutes to extend their winning streak to three games.

A spinning, one-handed dunk by Khalil Iverson gave Wisconsin a 55-44 advantage, but the Cornhuskers answered with 10 straight points to pull within 55-54 with 7:28 to play and continued rolling.

Palmer Jr. scored 16 points during a 30-8 Nebraska run to close the game, including a layup that gave the Cornhuskers their first lead of the second half with 4:35 remaining.

Isaac Copeland added 17 points and Glynn Watson Jr. had 15 for Nebraska (17-8, 8-4 Big Ten).

After trailing the majority of the first half, Nebraska went on a 9-1 run to take a 30-29 lead on a pair of free throws by Palmer with 1:13 left in the first half.

But Ethan Happ scored the final three points of the half, including a layup just before the buzzer, to give the Badgers a 32-30 halftime advantage.

Happ led Wisconsin (10-13, 3-7) with 25 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and four blocks. Iverson added 13 points and five rebounds.

BIG PICTURE

Nebraska: The second-half comeback was big for a Cornhuskers team gaining momentum toward its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2014. Nebraska now has won three straight and 10 of 13.

Wisconsin: A disappointing season continues for the Badgers, as Wisconsin let a win slip through its fingers and lost for the third consecutive game.

UP NEXT

Nebraska will have the rest of the week off from game action before playing at Minnesota on Feb. 6.

Wisconsin hosts Northwestern on Thursday. The Badgers and Wildcats will meet twice over the final four weeks of the regular season.

— Associated Press —-

Royals trade Moss, Buchter to Oakland for two pitchers

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals traded designated hitter Brandon Moss and left-hander Ryan Buchter to the Oakland A’s on Monday night for right-handed pitchers Jesse Hahn and Heath Fillmyer.

Not to mention a bit of financial relief.

Moss was owed $8.25 million for the upcoming season, and the Royals sent $3.25 million to Oakland as part of the deal. That equates to savings of about $5 million that the Royals, who have been trying to trim payroll, could use to sign free-agent first baseman Eric Hosmer to a long-term deal.

Moss hit a disappointing .207 with 22 homers and 50 RBIs for the Royals last season, and he was one of the names floated as recently as last week as the starting first baseman heading into spring.

But the Royals have been trying to woo Hosmer, a free agent for the first time, and have reportedly offered him a seven-year, $140 million contract. That size of a deal would make it difficult for general manager Dayton Moore to simultaneously succeed in his desire to trim payroll, which ballooned over the past two seasons, unless he was able to shred financial obligations elsewhere.

“It’s been a unique offseason, as you know. Unlike any I’ve been part of,” Moore said of the rather tepid free-agent market. “We remain interested in obviously bringing back Eric and we’re hoping for others as well, but right now I think it’s important we continue to not get antsy, not get overanxious with the market, and we’ll see what happens.”

The Royals announced earlier Monday that they had signed shortstop Alcides Escobar, another one of their core free agents, to a $2.5 million, one-year deal with $1.5 million in performance bonuses.

“Economically we have to get our payroll back in check,” Moore said last week. “I was very candid about what we had to do, that it’s simply not acceptable [to have a large payroll] in our market if you’re going to run a team that’s healthy and thriving longtime. We have some challenges, but challenges we’re prepared for and ready for. I believe we’re ready to move forward.”

Hahn went 3-6 with a 5.30 ERA in 13 starts for Oakland last season, and is expected to compete for a spot in Kansas City’s rotation. Fillmyer went 11-5 with a 3.49 ERA at Double-A Midland.

Buchter was 3-3 with a 3.05 ERA with San Diego when he was traded along with Trevor Cahill and Brandon Maurer in late July. He went 1-0 with a 2.67 ERA in 29 appearances for the Royals.

Meanwhile, Moss will have an opportunity to hit the reset on his career in Oakland.

The 34-year-old first baseman and outfielder was coming off a down season with St. Louis when he signed with the Royals prior to last season. But he continued to regress from his peak years in Oakland, including the 2014 season, when he hit 25 homers and was voted to the All-Star Game.

“I hit .207. I felt terrible. I felt like the pitchers were cheating,” Moss said during the Royals’ annual fan festival last week. “I should be thankful that I have a job.”

— Associated Press —

Chiefs announces coaching staff changes

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Chiefs announced changes to the club’s coaching staff on Monday. The team has promoted Mike Kafka to Quarterbacks Coach, Mark DeLeone to Inside Linebackers Coach, Mike Smith to Outside Linebackers Coach, Corey Matthaei to Assistant Offensive Line Coach, Joe Bleymaier to Pass Game Analyst/Assistant Quarterbacks Coach, and Terry Bradden to Defensive Quality Control Coach. The Chiefs have hired Jay Valai (defense) and David Girardi (offense) as Quality Control Coaches.

Former Assistant Head Coach Brad Childress and Special Projects Coach Tommy Brasher have informed the club they will retire. Linebackers Coach Gary Gibbs will not be returning to the team.

“The coaches we’ve elevated – Mike Kafka, Mark DeLeone, Mike Smith, Corey Matthaei, Joe Bleymaier and Terry Bradden – have each earned their opportunity to take the next step in their careers,” Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid said. “I’ve watched them grow, learn, teach, and I appreciate how they have gone about the process of improving their crafts. We’ve also added Jay and David as quality control coaches. I look forward to working with them as they begin their NFL careers.

“I’d like to thank Coach Childress, Coach Brasher and Coach Gibbs for their contributions over the years. Each of them played a role in the team’s success and I wish them all the best as they move forward.”

Kafka enters his second season with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018. As the Offensive Quality Control Coach with KC in 2017, he primarily assisted the quarterbacks. Prior to joining the Chiefs, Kafka returned to his alma mater, serving as a graduate assistant (offense) at Northwestern University. Prior to joining the coaching ranks, he enjoyed a six-year playing career in the National Football League where he saw action as a backup quarterback and practice squad member with several teams. Kafka was drafted in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft by then-Head Coach Andy Reid and the Philadelphia Eagles. He appeared in four games throughout his career, all with the Eagles in the 2011 season. He was a collegiate standout as a QB at Northwestern.

DeLeone enters his sixth season with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018, serving as a Defensive Quality Control Coach during his first two years with the club (2013-14), prior to being elevated to Assistant Linebackers Coach where he served the last three seasons (2015-17). DeLeone entered the NFL as a Defensive Assistant with the New York Jets following three stops coaching at the collegiate level, including New Hampshire (2009), Florida (2010) and Temple (2011). He graduated from Iowa where he served as a Student Assistant for the football program for four years.

Smith enters his third season with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018. He served as the Assistant Defensive Line Coach since his arrival in 2016. Prior to joining the Chiefs, Smith returned to his alma mater, serving as the Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach at Texas Tech. He entered the NFL coaching ranks coaching the outside linebackers for the New York Jets for three seasons (2010-12), following his first coaching stop at Hawaii coaching the linebackers in 2009. Smith entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick (234th overall) of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2005 NFL Draft where he played linebacker for four seasons.

Matthaei enters his sixth season with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018, serving as the Offensive Quality Control Coach during his first two seasons with the club (2013-14) before being elevated to Assistant Quarterbacks (2015-17). In his latest role, he also assisted with the offensive line. Prior to joining the Chiefs, Matthaei spent five seasons with Head Coach Andy Reid in Philadelphia as a Coaching Assistant (2008-09), as well as the Assistant to the Head Coach (2009-12). He began his coaching career in 2007 at his alma mater, Willamette University, after playing on the offensive line for four seasons (2003-06).

Bleymaier begins his third season with the Chiefs in 2018, spending his first two seasons as Offensive Quality Control Coach. Before joining the Chiefs in 2016, he spent three years at Colorado, serving a Quality Control Coach. Bleymaier began his NFL career with three summers as a football operations intern under then-Head Coach Andy Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles (2007-09). He was a four-year letterman as a wide receiver at Delaware (2002-05), where he recorded 74 receptions for 864 yards with 11 total touchdowns and was part of the Blue Hens’ 15-1, NCAA 1-AA National Championship team in 2003.

Bradden will enter his second NFL season with the Chiefs in 2018. He spent his first season as a Defensive Assistant. Bradden joined the Chiefs from Bethune-Cookman University where he served as the Quarterbacks Graduate Assistant. Prior to his time in Daytona Beach, he spent the 2015 season as the head coach of his alma mater, Inlet Grove High School. During the 2014 season, he was the Quality Control Special Teams Coach at Florida Atlantic University. He played quarterback for two seasons at Howard University (2009-11) before transferring to Tuskegee University (2011-13) where he graduated.

Valai enters his first NFL season with the Chiefs in 2018. He joins Kansas City after two seasons as the Defensive Quality Control coach at the University of Georgia. He played collegiately as a safety at Wisconsin from 2007 to 2010, recording 153 tackles (91 solo), 1.0 sack, four forced fumbles and two interceptions in 48 games played.

Girardi enters his first NFL season with the Chiefs in 2018. He joins Kansas City after one season as the Quarterbacks Coach at Lafayette College. Prior to coaching the Leopards, Girardi spent three seasons at Northwestern University working on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. He played collegiately as a quarterback at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa., from 2008-10.

— Chiefs Communications —

KU’s Beaty adds Bill Miller to football coaching staff

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas football head coach David Beaty added 40 years of coaching experience to his staff as he announced the hiring of the highly respected Bill Miller to his staff Monday. Miller, who is returning to his home state and beginning his second stint on the Kansas coaching staff, will coach the KU linebackers.

“Bill Miller is as highly regarded as they come in the coaching community,” said Beaty. “The amount of respect he commands from his players and the coaches he works alongside is tremendous. He is a leader in our field when it comes to developing players, and I am ecstatic to have him joining our program.”

With Miller coaching the linebackers, Beaty also announced that assistant coach Todd Bradford will now mentor the Jayhawk safeties, while assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Clint Bowen will now work with the cornerbacks. Kenny Perry will move into the special teams coordinator position and will also remain serving as KU’s recruiting coordinator.

Throughout his career, Miller has worked with some of the most successful and innovative collegiate coaches, including Nick Saban (Michigan State), Jimmy Johnson (Oklahoma State), Butch Davis (Miami) and most recently Jimbo Fisher. He was a semifinalist for the Broyles Award, which is presented annually to college football’s assistant coach of the year, while at Michigan State (2000) and Florida (2003). Miller has been on staff with six teams that have won conference championships and has coached in 14 bowl games.

Miller made his way back to KU after spending the previous four years at Florida State coaching linebackers. Under Miller’s guidance, Florida State’s linebackers were the leaders of the FSU defense and helped propel the Seminoles to three “New Year’s Six” bowl games.

In 2016, after losing leaders Reggie Northrup and Terrance Smith in the linebacker core, Miller’s group barely missed a beat. Florida State finished 22nd in total defense (349.1), 17th in third-down percentage (.339) and 22nd in tackles for loss per game (7.3) in the country.

Miller showed his ability to develop talent, as first-year starter Matthew Thomas led the team in tackles (77) including a standout game against No. 6 Michigan in the Orange Bowl, where Thomas set a career high in tackles (15) and TFL (3.5), leading Thomas to ESPN’s All Bowl-Team.

In 2015, senior linebackers Northrup and Smith both captured all-conference honors for the second-straight year to lead an FSU defense that ranked ninth in the country in scoring defense (17.8) and 19th in total defense (336.9). Northrup rebounded from an ACL injury to lead FSU in tackles (94) for a second-straight year en route to All-ACC second team honors, while Smith battled injuries, but still totaled 65 tackles in nine games on his way to All-ACC honorable mention honors.

In 2014, Smith (87 tackles) grabbed All-ACC second team honors and Northrup (122 stops) collected All-ACC third team accolades to lead the Seminoles to an ACC Championship and a berth in the first-ever College Football Playoff Semifinal. Northrup’s tackle total was the most by a Seminole since 2002.

Before his time in Tallahassee, Miller was at Minnesota for three years where he helped shape a defense that in 2013 allowed only 289 points, which was the first time that the Gophers allowed less than 300 points since 2004.

Miller had to replace two starters at linebacker in 2013 and did an admirable job with his corps as Damien Wilson was second on the team with 78 tackles. Miller’s linebackers also made big plays in 2013, as Aaron Hill scored two touchdowns and James Manuel scored one.

Prior to joining the Gophers, Miller coached the linebackers and served as the co-defensive coordinator during his first go-round at KU in 2009.

Miller coached the linebackers at Louisville in 2008 and had been promoted to defensive coordinator before accepting the position at Kansas. Miller was the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan in 2007.

He was the defensive coordinator at Arizona State from 2005-06 on Dirk Koetter’s staff and quickly turned around the Sun Devil defense. In one year, he took the Arizona State defense from last in the Pac-10 to second (behind USC) in total defense.

In 2003-04, Miller was the associate head coach and linebackers coach at Florida. He spent 1999-2002 at Michigan State as the Spartans’ defensive coordinator on coach Saban’s staff. While in East Lansing, Miller’s defense finished first in the Big Ten in total defense and the Spartans beat Florida in the 2000 Citrus Bowl.

From 1995-98, he ran the defense for Miami (Fla.) and won two Big East championships as a member of coach Butch Davis’ staff. From 1989-94, Miller was the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State.

Miller’s first experience at Minnesota was from 1986-88, when he served as the Gophers’ defensive backs coach on John Gutekunst’s staff. He helped lead Minnesota to a 20-17 win at Michigan as the Gophers handed the previously unbeaten and second-ranked Wolverines their first loss of the season.

He coordinated the defense at Nevada from 1983-85. His defense led the Big Sky in total defense twice as the Wolf Pack won two Big Sky championships during his tenure.

His first full-time job in collegiate coaching was in 1981, when he coached the secondary at Drake for two seasons. Miller got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Texas-Arlington in 1978 on Bud Elliott’s staff. He followed that with a stint as a graduate assistant for two seasons (1979-80) at Oklahoma State under Jimmy Johnson.

Miller, who also coached in the 1991 Blue-Gray Football Classic, is a graduate of Hutchinson (Kan.) High School. He played two years at Hutchinson Junior College in 1974-75 and then finished his collegiate career playing safety at Texas-Arlington in 1976-77.

— KU Athletics —

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