Molly Miller, who led Grand Canyon’s women’s basketball team to its first March Madness this year, is leaving to become the Arizona State coach.
Both ASU and Miller confirmed the hiring Saturday.
Miller spent the last five years at GCU, where she took over a program that had gone 15-12 a year before her arrival and was 7-20 two years before coming to Phoenix to foster a winning culture that included the program’s first conference title this season.
Arizona State women’s basketball confirmed the hire with a post on its X account Saturday, saying: “Sun Devil Nation, join us in welcoming Molly Miller as our new head coach!”
ASU also issued a statement Saturday saying Miller will be introduced at a welcome press conference Wednesday.
“ASU has hired a proven winner who guided Grand Canyon University to a 32-3 record this season which included a 30-game winning streak and GCU’s first berth in the NCAA Women’s Tournament,” the ASU statement said.
The Lopes lost to Baylor, 73-60, in the first round of their first NCAA Tournament appearance. GCU held the nation’s longest win streak of 30 wins, which was the best record among the 64 teams in the field at 32-2.
ASU is hoping Miller can return the Sun Devils to the success of the Charli Turner Thorne era. Turner Thorne was the winningest women’s basketball coach in ASU history in her 25 years leading the program.
Miller replaces Natasha Adair, who was fired after three seasons. Adair posted a 10-22 record during the 2024-25 season, including a 3-15 mark in Big 12 Conference play. She was 29-62 (.319) overall and 7-47 (.129) in conference play (Pac-12 and Big 12 combined).
Miller declined to comment Friday after GCU’s loss about the ASU job, but on Saturday, she posted a message thanking GCU. Her X account was updated to identify her as ASU’s women’s basketball coach.
“As I reflect on my five years as head coach at Grand Canyon University, I am filled with gratitude,” she wrote. “Our success over these seasons was truly a team effort, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to serve this incredible community.”
This year’s GCU team became the first in-state Division I women’s basketball program to beat the other three in-state D-I teams — Arizona State, Arizona and Northern Arizona — in the same season.
Miller, who grew up in Springfield, Missouri, is known for her pressure defense, creating turnovers, leading to baskets.
Miller, 38, also coached at her alma mater, Drury, leading them to 180 wins and just 17 losses in six seasons. The 914 winning percentage was the best stretch in Drury’s history and was the best among active NCAA coaches at the time.
Her last team at Drury was 32-0 before COVID-19 ended that season in March without a chance to win a Division II national title.
GCU has already conducted a coaching search and plans to introduce its next women’s basketball coach Monday.
Molly Miller leaving Grand Canyon for Arizona State women's basketball job – The Arizona Republic
