BG's Miller suffers mild stroke

Bowling Green women's coach Curt Miller disputes a call on Sunday. He later suffered a mild stroke, which was diagnosed on Thursday. THE BLADE/JETTA FRASER Enlarge | Photo Reprints

BOWLING GREEN -- Bowling Green State University women's basketball coach Curt Miller won't be with the Falcons at Central Michigan for the team's game Saturday after doctors determined Thursday that he suffered a mild stroke late in his team's game on Sunday.

"This has been a wake-up call for me, and I have already begun the process of finding a healthier balance," Miller 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 episode occurred late in the Falcons' 70-54 win over Eastern Michigan at the Stroh Center Sunday. Miller spoke with EMS workers at the game following the win, his 250th career victory at BG, and went home immediately following the contest. He rested at home Monday but was back with the team Tuesday, taking part in practice and then traveling with the Falcons to Ball State.

"I'm not 100 percent," Miller said in a phone interview Tuesday. "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."

Miller was on the sidelines for BG's 64-52 win over the Cardinals Wednesday and was at the team's practice Thursday.

Associate head coach Jennifer Roos will lead the program in Miller's absence and serve as acting head coach Saturday at Central Michigan. The date Miller will return to the sidelines has not been determined.

"Our first priority is Curt's health," said Greg Christopher, BG'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."

The 43-year-old Miller has a 251-88 record in 11 seasons at Bowling Green, where he has led the Falcons to five Mid-American Conference tournament titles (2005-07, 2010-11) and seven consecutive first-place division finishes (MAC West in 2004-05, MAC East the past six seasons).

Miller was named the league's coach of the year five consecutive seasons from 2005-09. His 251 career wins are the second-most for a coach in MAC history, and his 128 league wins are the third-highest total all-time.

While the Falcons will be without their coach, Central Michigan will be without three players who were suspended for two games by the Mid-American Conference Thursday for their role in an on-court fight in the Chippewas' game against Ohio one day earlier.

The three freshmen -- Jas'Mine Bracey, Crystal Bradford, and Jessica Green -- all rank among the MAC leaders in scoring. They combine to produce 36.2 points and 19.5 rebounds per game.

The MAC also suspended Ohio's Porshia Harris for two games for her role in the fight.

Contact John Wagner at: jwagner@theblade.com, 419-724-6481 or on Twitter @jwagnerblade.