We sat down with Molly Miller to pick her brain and talk about her first six months on the job...
- Name the most impressive thing you have learned about Arizona State since becoming the head coach.
“The level of pride in Sun Devil Nation has been incredible to see, but what has impressed me the most is how invested people are in seeing Sun Devil Athletics succeed. From administration to alumni to fans, there’s a genuine pride here that makes you want to work even harder to represent ASU. It’s a culture of community. People genuinely care and they are ready for something special.”
- Coaches can get in trouble for saying “best player” or favorite player but here is one question that maybe you can answer…what player on the team does something very well that you didn’t really know about?
“Well, I didn't know about a lot of these players' talents except from game film. So coming to them and seeing some of the tangibles that maybe you don't see just evaluating from film and from the portal has been really fun. I think a standout to me has been Marley and her ability to communicate, lead, talk, be positive, and I’m pleasantly surprised with Amaya. One of my favorite things to do is to ask anyone who comes in here to point out the freshmen, and a lot of times they can't do it. So I think that's a really good start for Amaya being our lone freshman here this summer”
- Most famous person you have met since becoming Arizona State head coach?
“Probably James Harden, I have to say it was fun seeing him in the gym as an alum and seeing his success and now I'm trying to get that female version here next.”
- Are you fouling up three with under 10 seconds to go?
“It depends on the situation. I want to put the game in my hands, so sometimes I'll lean towards yes, but it also depends on time, scoring situations, who's in foul trouble. It comes down to if they're a good offensive rebounding team, so a lot more dynamics go into just a question of fouling up three.”
- What could you have done to beat Baylor last in the NCAA Tournament?
“I think we're right there, that was a winnable game for us. It’s something that would have been nice if I had three of my starters not play the whole second quarter, so if I could redo it, hopefully we would not be in as much foul trouble. I think the foul trouble really hurt our rhythm and our ability to go on extended runs, and then the interior presence was a chore for us, so that's something we would try to clean up also.”
- Your favorite win at GCU and why?
“My last one against UT Arlington in the WAC final was the best one because that made it official for us in getting into the NCAA tournament. Our number one goal was to win the conference tournament and make it to the big dance so it was fun to get to put our dancing shoes on after that one.”
- Your favorite movie and why?
“This is hard because I do not have favorite movies, TV shows. If I had time to watch them, I might, but I would say the corny movie, ‘Love and Basketball’. That's always been a crowd pleaser for me.”
- You are ranked second in all-time scoring at your alma mater, Drury University. What were your go-to moves that enabled you to score so many points?
“I scored off my defense. I was a scrappy defender, so I'd get some open court steals and just have layups, which were pretty easy to hit. I also had this one move where on a drive I'd fake it to the corner and there would be no one there, but I'd still pass fake it, and they would jump on that and I'd go in for a layup. I think my effort got a lot of easy points for me, whether it was cutting to the basket, driving to the basket, or scoring off my defense.”
- Your name is one of the most well-known among students who graduated from Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Mo. What’s it like sharing that status with some actor named Brad Pitt? Was it a big deal to the school that he graduated from there? Did he ever make any surprise visits during your time as a student?
“I wish, people would tell me all the time, ‘what's it like to be like Brad Pitt?’ No, I'm just kidding. He never made any visits, but his family is still there and they’re awesome. I have had a lot of interactions and dinner over at their mom and dad’s house and they're very supportive people and it's nice to have that support in your hometown.”
- Outside of graduating from the same high school as Brad Pitt, anything else the Sun Devil fan base would be surprised to know about you? Any fun facts or hidden talents?
“I mean, I don't have a big hidden talent, but a fun fact is I am a closet theater nerd. If you can't find me in the gym, I might be at ASU Gammage on a Friday night. Now that I'm so close to the gammage, I’m excited to go see some theater and musicals. I love broadway and off-broadway and I’m very much looking forward to that.”
- What are the trademarks of a Molly Miller-coached team?
“Relentless defense, unselfish offense, and a whole lot of energy. We’ll communicate, we’ll compete, and we’ll celebrate together. It’s going to be max effort every possession. We play hard, we play fast and we play for each other."
- If you were asked your freshman year at Drury, ‘What career path do you intend to follow after graduation?’ Your answer would have been... ?’ If it wasn’t coaching, at what point did you decide you wanted to be a coach? Was it a process that slowly developed during your playing career, or a series of significant singular events that caused you to realize the coaching profession was calling your name?
“I probably would’ve said something marketing or PR-related. Coaching clicked for me though once I realized how much I loved the X’s and O’s even on the other side of the ball and the relationships you build. I knew it was for me. That mentorship has made me love my job even more than I could have imagined.”
- What has been the main takeaway on the shift of this program in the last four months since you were hired?
“The buy-in. The players have embraced the culture shift and are working hard to raise the standard every day. That belief in what we are doing and how we are doing it is growing in the locker room and on the court. We are laying the foundation with intensity, connection and shared purpose.”
- As important as it is to have strong relationships with the players, how have the relationships been with the coaching staff so far?
“We have a great group. There is open communication, we challenge each other, and we genuinely enjoy being around each other, which makes the daily grind easier. I have a staff that has a ton of strengths, and they believe in developing people first and players second, and that’s huge for me.”
➡️ @DAEJAH_vue She knows the system. She knows how to win. 🙌 #TheShow x #Team50 pic.twitter.com/NqFTERQ614
- What would be the one word to describe this team so far throughout the offseason workouts?
“Connected.”
- During the offseason workouts, I notice the team is very supportive and is pushing each other to be better every day. How important is it to have these developments in team chemistry, especially in today's world of college sports, with the transfer portal playing a heavy factor?
“It’s critical. With rosters changing so quickly these days, having strong chemistry is what gives you consistency. If players feel connected, they’re more likely to stay and grow within the program. You can have talent, but if there is no trust or buy-in, it falls apart.
- “What has been the main difference in the early stages of coaching a Power 4 team ?
“Everything is bigger, resources, attention, and expectations. The depth of talent we are recruiting at this level is big time. Getting on the phone and talking to some of the best players in the country and having that access has been one of my favorite parts in the transition. The media obligations are on another level as well.”
- What has been the most rewarding part of building relationships with your team?
“Watching them grow on and off the court. When they start to trust us, one another and themselves it becomes something really special. Seeing their personalities come out has been really fun too. You recruit them as players but watching who they are as people when they are laughing, competing, lifting each other up, enjoying time together, that’s the fun part.”
- Success on the scoreboard is done with points. What does success look like for your program away from the scoreboard?
“Graduating players, preparing them for life, and helping them leave ASU better people than when they arrived. Wins matter, but who they become is the real success and when they become leaders themselves, I hope they can look back at their time on the team with pride and know that helped them get to where they are today.”
- What do most people not understand about what it takes to build a program?
“It’s about patience and culture. Everyone wants instant results and trust me I want to go out and win every single game this year, but I have to lay the foundation the right way, and I don’t want to compromise on that. The relationships, habits, accountability will come first, and that’s daily habits and work building up, not happening overnight.”