Bowling Green coach's passion, assistants helped pave way to 200 wins

Bowling Green's Curt Miller became the fastest women's coach in MAC history to reach 200 wins, needing 279 games to reach the milestone. THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH Enlarge | Buy This Photo

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BOWLING GREEN - Curt Miller is as demonstrative at courtside as any coach in the Mid-American Conference.

Bowling Green State University's women's basketball coach won't hesitate to leave his seat to question a referee or get the attention of his players.

It's all part of his passion and enthusiasm that has made him one of the most successful coaches in MAC history.

He's one of only three MAC women's coaches to win 200 games. He joined the small group after the Falcons beat Akron 66-56 on Saturday.

Miller, who has led BG to five straight regular-season titles, willingly shares credit with those who've been with him along the way to becoming the fastest MAC coach to reach the milestone.

"When you reflect and take a couple days after the 200 wins the first thing you think about is all the players that you've coached and I did it with the same coaching staff alongside me the whole time," said Miller, who owns a career record of 200-79. "So, it's not only an accomplishment for myself, but obviously the whole coaching staff.

"We had a lot of fun stories on the way home the other night from Akron about where we came from since 2001."

Reigning MAC player of the year Lauren Prochaska scored a team-high 20 points against Akron.

"We're really excited for him to get the 200th win," Prochaska said. "We're real excited for him and the coaching staff."

Miller is in his ninth season at BG and assistant coaches Jennifer Roos, Brandi Poole, and Kevin Eckert have been at his side from the start.

Only Kent State's Bob Lindsay (389 victories) and former University of Toledo coach Mark Ehlen (240 wins) have won more games than Millerin MAC women's basketball. Yet, he reached the 200-win mark in 279 games while it took Ehlen 292 and Lindsay 308.

"I still view myself as a young coach that's still learning," Miller said. "But to be mentioned with some of the greats in the MAC that I look up to [who] are, and continue to be very successful, it's almost overwhelming."

Prior to becoming the Falcons coach in 2001, he spent time as an assistant at Kent State, Cleveland State, Syracuse, and Colorado State.

Being named BG's coach offered him the opportunity to find out if he could run his own program.

"I think as a young head coach there's always that mustard seed of doubt," Miller reflected. "As a head coach you find out right away a lot of things that you thought were going to work don't, and that you need great players and you need to be surrounded by great people. We're not coaching any different than we did the first year when we won nine games."

Miller will look to win career win No. 201 when BG plays at Buffalo tomorrow night.

LARSON HONORED: Falcons forward Marc Larson has been named an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American second team selection.

Larson, a 6-11 post, is an engineering major who owns a 3.97 grade point average. He averages 5.0 points and 3.8 rebounds.

Contact Donald Emmons

at: demmons@theblade.com

or 419-724-6302.