‘I’m going to build this thing on rock, not sand’: ASU introduces Molly Miller as next women’s basketball coach

On Wednesday evening, Arizona State formally introduced Molly Miller as the program’s next head women’s basketball coach.

Joined by school president, Dr. Michael Crow, and athletic director, Graham Rossini, Miller made her ASU media debut at a welcome press conference at the Papago Park Golf Club.

Miller expressed her excitement early, smiling ear-to-ear as she posed for photos with a jersey that had her last name spelled across its back. Once she sat back down, the first words she uttered into the mic were, “No, seriously, is it season yet?”

Molly Miller arrives for her opening press conference@InfernoIntel pic.twitter.com/OAdkvHejAt

— Adam Kunin (@adamkuninsports) March 26, 2025

She arrives in Tempe with a 297-55 record throughout her 11 seasons as the head coach of GCU (five seasons) and her alma mater, Drury (six seasons). Most recently, she guided the Antelopes to the NCAA tournament and compiled an impressive 32-3 record en route to a Western Athletic Conference championship.

Miller reiterated that to prosper in Tempe, she’ll need to bring over some of the elements in her coaching style that brought success to her teams at GCU. 

“I do think teams take on the personality of their head coach,” Miller said. “So you’ll see a coach with moxie and enthusiasm and relentless energy and effort and passion … It’s going to be fun to watch ASU basketball. We’re going to get after it, we’re going to be gritty, we’re going to be passionate, we’re going to lead with energy and effort.”

This playstyle encapsulates the culture Miller wants to build early on in her tenure at the helm of the program. One that will look to use hard work to swing its momentum in a positive direction. 

“When there’s no wind in your sail, row,” Miller said. “We’re going to row. We’re going to hit the ground running, we’re going to work hard and we’re gonna row. Pat Summit, her famous quote was, ‘How am I going to beat you? I’m going to outwork you.’” 

Throughout the interview process, Miller made it abundantly clear that she held the program’s history in high regard. It influenced her to keep the Sun Devils inked at the top of her list for potential landing spots. This respect for the school left a strong imprint on Rossini. 

“In our first conversation, I could tell that she’s had her eyes on ASU,” Rossini said. “She knew that she could be successful here … At some point, I felt like we were getting pursued as much as we were recruiting her. Somebody who looks at ASU as a destination is what matters to me. I want people to be successful here for the best years of their career and not use ASU as a stepping stone.”

She also received some help from longtime Sun Devil head coach Charli Turner Thorne, who remained in close contact with Miller throughout the hiring process. Sitting in the front row at Wednesday’s press conference, Turner Thorne beamed as Miller talked about the relationship the two share.

“I’ve been on the phone with her often,” Miller said. “I said, ‘Can you make some reference calls for me? And so she did that … Then I asked her, ‘Will you just send some voice memos about recruiting nuggets that I can use?’ So at night I lie down and I listen to CTT right before I go to bed.”

From the start of the century to the late 2010s, Turner Thorne captained teams that regularly participated in the NCAA tournament. 

Rossini and Crow remain confident that Miller will be the coach who can return Arizona State to these heights and revive the program’s overall pride. 

“Her commitment to excellence, her passion for developing student athletes, both as players and individuals, and her record of success speak volumes about what she brings to the program,” Rossini said. “She’s proven time and time again that she can lead teams to championship outcomes, and we’re confident she’ll do the same here at ASU.”

“We want to be competitive in every game,” Crow said. “I don’t want to see any games where we’re not competitive. We may not win every game, but we better be competitive in every game.”

At the core of Miller’s plan to breathe life back into Sun Devil women’s basketball is a concerted effort to involve the community and fans. 

Many notable faces made an appearance at her opening press conference, including some current and former ASU coaches.

Some notable current and former ASU coaches were in attendance for Molly Miller’s introductory press conference:

-Charli Turner Thorne
-Kenny Dillingham
-Bobby Hurley
-Greg Powers
-Missy Farr-Kaye
-Willie Bloomquist

Just some of the many faces I noticed @InfernoIntel pic.twitter.com/igBngV693u

— Adam Kunin (@adamkuninsports) March 27, 2025

Additionally, students from the 942 crew, along with boosters and longtime Sun Devil women’s basketball fans, showed up in support of Miller. 

To turn around the program that has seen three straight losing seasons, she understands that it will take a group effort and alignment from all aspects of the community. 

“I’m going to build this thing on rock, not sand, and we’re going to have a really solid foundation of culture, family, faith [and] friends that’s going to lead us.”