Recognized as one of the top recruiters in the nation, Ryan Miller enters his second year on Tony Barbee[apos]s staff at Auburn and his fifth coaching alongside Barbee.
Miller coached the previous five years (2007-12) as an assistant coach at New Mexico under head coach Steve Alford. He was a part of the most successful five-year period in New Mexico basketball history, helping the Lobos to a 126-46 record, five consecutive postseason appearances and a pair of NCAA Tournament berths.
New Mexico won two regular season Mountain West Conference Championships and one MWC Tournament Championship during his coaching stint.
[quote]I[apos]m excited about Ryan joining on our staff,[quote] Barbee said when he hired Miller at Auburn. [quote]He is a close friend who I have known for quite a while now. He is going to add a lot to the program in all areas from recruiting to coaching to relationships with players.[quote]
Miller is considered one of the top recruiters in the country where he has contacts throughout the United States as well as foreign countries including Australia, where he also played competitively.
Miller was a basketball operations assistant at Memphis under head coach John Calipari from 2004-06 when Barbee was also an assistant coach on the staff. During Miller[apos]s three years at Memphis, the Tigers went 78-28 and made three postseason tournament appearances, including two NCAA Tournament berths.
Miller spent one year as an assistant coach at Pepperdine before joining the New Mexico staff prior to the 2007-08 season.
A native of Mitchell, S.D., Miller attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., where he was a two-time Northern Sun All-Conference and All-Academic selection. He finished his career eighth on Northern State[apos]s all-time scoring list after leading his teams to four straight conference championships and the 1998 regional title. He was named a Div. II All-American and an All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Academic selection as a senior in 1997-98.
In the 1998 North Central Region Championship, Miller scored 45 points, making nine 3-pointers, leading Northern State to an 88-82 victory over South Dakota State to advance to their first Elite 8 in Louisville, Ky.
Miller was drafted into the CBA in 1999 and played professionally for the Fargo-Moorhead Beez of International Basketball Association that season.
Miller earned his bachelor[apos]s degree in physical education from Northern State in 2000. He attended Mitchell (S.D.) Senior High where he was a two-time all-state selection, leading Mitchell to the 1994 state championship. His brother, Mike, is a 13-year NBA veteran who won the 2012 and 2013 NBA Championship with the Miami Heat.
He was born on Sept. 27, 1975, in Mitchell, S.D.
Ryan Miller Quick Sketch
PERSONAL DATA: Born Sept. 27, 1975, in Mitchell, S.D. Younger brother of Mike Miller, a 13-year NBA veteran who won the 2012 and 2013 NBA Championship with the Miami Heat.
COACHING EXPERIENCE: College - Second year as associate head coach at Auburn (2012-pres.); Two months as an assistant coach at Missouri (2012); Five years as an assistant coach at New Mexico (2007-12); One year as an assistant coach at Pepperdine (2006-07); Three years as basketball operations assistant at Memphis (2004-07).
EDUCATION: Graduated from Mitchell (S.D.) Senior High in 1994; B.A. in Physical Education from Northern State in 2000.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: High School - Lettered two years in basketball at Mitchell (S.D.) Senior High School (19xx-94). College - Four-year letterman at Northern State (1994-98). Professional - Drafted into the CBA in 1999.