Hall of Fame
A native of Chanute, Kan., Miller coached the Shockers for 13 seasons (1951-64), compiling an overall record of 220-133 and a league mark of 81-75. His teams captured the 1964 Valley regular-season title and finished second three times (1954, 1962 and 1963).
The 1954 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, Miller powered the Shockers to the NCAA Midwest Regional final in 1964. WSU – which had advanced with at 84-68 win over Creighton – lost to Kansas State, 94-86, in the regional final.
A 1942 graduate of the University of Kansas, Miller still ranks fourth on the all-time Valley coaching win list and his 13 years of service ranks third on the league’s longevity chart.
Following the 1963-64 season, Miller became head coach at the University of Iowa and compiled a 95-51 record in six seasons, including a 20-5 mark in 1969-70 and a trip to the 1970 NCAA Tournament.
In 1970-71, he began a 19-year tenure as head coach at Oregon State University. At OSU, he had an amazing 342-198 record, including eight 20-win seasons and five appearances in the NCAA Tournament (1975, 1984, 1985, 1988 and 1989).
Named the 1981 National Coach of the Year by the Associated Press, United Press International, the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and the National Association of Basketball Coaches, he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.