Cheryl Miller

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (March 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Cheryl D. Miller (born on January 3, 1964 in Riverside, California) is a former college basketball player and coach. She is currently a sideline reporter for NBA games on TNT having worked as a sports commentator for ABC, TBS and ESPN as well. She was also head coach and General Manager of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.

In 1995, Miller was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1999, she was inducted into the inaugural class of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Knoxville, Tennessee.

She is the sister of retired National Basketball Association star Reggie Miller, and former Major League Baseball catcher Darrell Miller.

Contents 1 High school career 2 University of Southern California 3 Post-college career 4 Notes and references

[edit] High school career

Miller played at Riverside Polytechnic High School (1978–1982) where she was a four-year letter winner and led her team to a 132-4 record. She was awarded the Dial Award for the national high-school scholar-athlete of the year in 1981. She was the first player, male or female, to be named an All-American by Parade magazine four times. Averaging 32.8 points and 15.0 rebounds a game, Miller was Street & Smith's national High School Player of the Year in both 1981 and 1982. During her senior year she scored 105 points in a game against Norte Vista High School.

[edit] University of Southern California

At the University of Southern California (USC), the 6 ft. 2 in. (1.87 m) Miller played the forward position. She was a four-year letter winner, scored 3,018 career points (fifth all-time in NCAA history), and was a four-time All-American. Her career rebounding mark of 1,534 ranks her third all-time in NCAA history. Miller was named Naismith College Player of the Year three times and earned the Wade Trophy (Player of the Year) once. In 1993 she took the head coaching job at her alma mater, USC, after the university chose to fire coach Marianne Stanley rather than pay her a salary comparable to her male counterpart, George Raveling^[1]. At USC, Miller led the Trojans to a 112-20 record and NCAA titles in 1983 and 1984 and was named NCAA Tournament MVP both years. Miller's teammates included Cynthia Cooper, two-time WNBA MVP; Pam McGee, 1984 Olympian and All-American, and Paula McGee, 1982 and 1983 All-American. Miller was coached by Linda K. Sharp, one of college basketball's most winning coaches. During her senior season, Miller picked up her third Naismith Award, the Broderick Award as the Female College Basketball Player of the Year. Miller still holds numerous Trojan career records, including points (3,018, 23.6 ppg), rebounds (1,534, 12.0 rpg), field goals made (1,159), free throws made (700), games played (128), and steals (462). Miller's previous Trojan records in assists (414) was almost doubled by Rhonda Windham (735); Lisa Leslie topped her blocked shot record by one (321).^[2]

Miller led the U.S. team to the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and was also part of the gold medal teams at the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela and 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow.

In 1986, Miller was nominated for the James E. Sullivan Award, and in that same year, USC retired her #31 jersey.

[edit] Post-college career

After graduating from USC in 1986, she was drafted by several professional basketball leagues, including the United States Basketball League, a men's league. However, in the late 1980s, Miller suffered knee injuries that prevented her from continuing her playing career. From 1986 to 1991, she worked as an assistant coach at USC and as a television sports commentator.

Miller was named Head Coach at USC and coached two seasons (1993-95). Her teams had a combined 44-14 record and went to the NCAA tournament both seasons, making a Regional Final once. She then coached for four seasons (1997-2000) with the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, where she also served as General Manager. "Run, run, run, run, run," Miller said about her kind of team. "Play some outstanding defense. I want this team to be physical, I want them to know the game." In 1998, Miller coached the Mercury to the WNBA Finals, where her team lost to the Houston Comets. She resigned after the 2000 season, citing fatigue.

[edit] Notes and references

Awards
Preceded by Lynette Woodard	United States Basketball Female Athlete of the Year 1984	Succeeded by Jennifer Gillom
Preceded by Anne Donovan	Naismith College Player of the Year (women's) 1984–1986	Succeeded by Clarissa Davis
Preceded by Jennifer Gillom	United States Basketball Female Athlete of the Year 1986	Succeeded by Teresa Edwards
Preceded by Janice Lawrence	Wade Trophy winner 1985	Succeeded by Kamie Ethridge
Preceded by James A. Dombrowski Edward D. Eyestone Timothy J. Green Susan K. Harbour Kathryn L. Hayes Lauri A. Young	Todays Top VI Award Class of 1987 Lisa L. Ice Jon L. Louis Cheryl Miller John C. Moffet Dub W. Myers Megan L. Neyer	Succeeded by Regina K. Cavanaugh Charles D. Cecil Keith J. Jackson Gordon C. Lockbaum Mary T. Meagher David Robinson
Sporting positions
Preceded by Initial coach	Phoenix Mercury Head Coach 1997-2000	Succeeded by Cynthia Cooper