Greg Christopher is planning a national search to find a replacement for Curt Miller, who resigned as
Bowling Green’s women’s basketball coach Wednesday morning.
Miller, BG’s head coach for the last 11 years, accepted a similar position at Indiana.
Christopher, BG’s athletics director, spoke with the media via teleconference. He is the chairman of the
NCAA women’s basketball selection committee and is in Denver for the Final Four.
“As I told the team … via video conference, this will be our top priority. But I also don’t know what
the exact time line will be,” Christopher said. “We are going to move as quickly as we can, but finding
the right person is the higher priority.
“Our goal just simply is to find the best head coach and the best leader for BGSU women’s basketball,”
Christopher added. “The only way to do that is to conduct a full national search. This program is too
strong and has too much of a (national) profile; we clearly need to go through a complete search
process.”
Miller had an overall record of 258-92 and a Mid-American Conference record of 135-41 at Bowling Green.
During Miller’s tenure the Falcons won an unprecedented eight straight MAC divisional titles, with seven
outright league regular-season crowns during that span. BG has made eight consecutive national
postseason appearances, with trips to the NCAA championships in three consecutive years from 2005-07 and
back-to-back appearances in 2010 and 2011. The 2007 season saw the Falcons win two games to make the
first trip to the ‘Sweet Sixteen’ in MAC women’s basketball history.
BG participated in the WNIT in 2008, 2009 and 2012.
At Indiana, Miller replaces Felisha Legette-Jack, who coached the Hoosiers for six years. In her first
three years, she had winning overall records and winning conference records her second and third
seasons. In that third year, the team tied the school record for consecutive wins (nine) and totaled 21
wins for just the fourth time in program history, advancing to the quarterfinals of the WNIT. However,
each of the last three years has produced losing overall and conference records.
“From a Bowling Green standpoint, I hate to see him go. What he has done with our women’s basketball
program … and the standard of excellence that has been established in his more than a decade is
remarkable,” Christopher said. “From a personal level, I’m absolutely thrilled for Curt. We’ve talked
enough over the last few years to know this was really the type of opportunity that was a goal for Curt,
and perhaps it was the only type of opportunity that might have pulled him away from Bowling Green.
“Indiana is a first-rate institution. They have the resources to be successful on a national stage and on
a higher level, and the recruiting base is right in Curt’s wheelhouse,” Christopher continued. “This is
a great fit for both Indiana and for Curt, and I’m sure he’s going to do great things for Indiana
basketball.”
Christopher said he has several things he considers in looking for a head coach.
“First and foremost, you think of the type of person, the qualities and traits and character you are
looking for,” Christopher said. “Then I think of leadership and CEO of a program any time we are looking
for a head coach.”
Christopher is also considering recruiting, player development, the X’s and O’s of game management, and
the overall management of the program, when looking for a new coach.
“I don’t think you can pigeon hole yourself into any kind of specific candidate,” Christopher said. “We
are committed to continued excellence. We want to win MAC championships, and this program has a national
profile.
“You have seen over the years, successful coaches come in all shapes and sizes,” Christopher added. “I
don’t know … if it has to be a head coach, former or existing.”
Jennifer Roos, Miller’s top assistant for the last 11 years, could be a candidate to replace Miller.
“I think the world of Jennifer,” Christopher said. “If she wants to be a candidate, and honestly we
haven’t spoken yet about the BGSU situation … I fully expect her to be a finalist and in the mix.
“She also needs the credibility of going through a complete search process, because I think she
understands we’ve got to have that goal of finding the best head coach for BGSU women’s basketball.”
Christopher has not named an interim coach and does not plan to do so in the immediate future.
“Jennifer, Kevin (Eckert), Brandi (Poole), ‘Mo’ (Monique Rosati) are still with BGSU and they will still
lead the program,” Christopher said. “There is probably no program that’s better positioned to handle
transition in women’s basketball just because they do such a great job of running their program.
“I’m not concerned about the team’s workout schedule and again the overall running of the program over
the next couple or three weeks.”