BGSU coach Miller suffered mild stroke

BGSU coach Curt Miller disputes a call during Sunday's game. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER Enlarge | Buy This Photo

BOWLING GREEN –- Bowling Green State University women’s basketball coach Curt Miller will not travel with the team to Central Michigan Saturday after doctors Thursday determined that he suffered a mild stroke late in his team’s 70-54 win over Eastern Michigan on Jan. 22.

“This has been a wake-up call for me and I have already begun the process of finding a healthier balance,” Miller, 43, said in a statement. “I am passionate about coaching and I look forward to my return soon. I, along with the rest of our coaches and players, would like to thank the community for its ongoing support of our program.”

The date Miller will return to the sidelines has not been determined.

“Our first priority is Curt’s health,” said Greg Christopher, BGSU’s director of athletics. “Although he has been cleared to continue coaching, we all felt it was best to take a step back right now. We fully expect Curt to return to the bench soon. Until then, everyone involved with our department and the women’s basketball program will support Curt and our student-athletes.”

Associate head coach Jennifer Roos will lead the program in Miller’s absence and serve as acting head coach Saturday at Central Michigan.

In a phone interview Tuesday, Miller said of the episode Sunday, “I had something called an ‘optical migraine,’ and I had a temporary loss of vision.

“To paint a picture of what I can see [now], [visualize] the face of a clock. For me, the one area that is blurry is right around the ‘8’ on that clock. A large part of my vision is back, but I still have a bit of a blind spot.”

“I hear coaches talk about the ‘grind’ of coaching all the time, and I am wired to just drive and drive and drive,” he said. “When you are passionate and driven, often the last person you take care of is yourself. I need to take care of myself.”

Miller left immediately following Sunday’s win, which was his 250th victory as the Falcons’ coach. Roos said at the time that Miller was light-headed and went home immediately after consulting with EMS staff and did not speak with reporters.

Miller rested at home Monday but was on the practice floor with his team Tuesday, and made the trip to Muncie, Ind., on Wednesday.