Brandon Miller

Brandon Miller (born May 21, 1979) is an American basketball coach, who previously played college basketball at Southwest Missouri State and Butler. Miller served as Butler's head coach for one season in 2013–14 before requesting a medical leave of absence in October 2014. On January 2, 2015, Butler University announced that Miller would not be returning following his university-approved medical leave and that interim coach Chris Holtmann had been named the Bulldogs head coach.

Born in New Castle, Indiana, Miller played point guard for New Castle Chrysler High School before beginning his college career at Southwest Missouri State. When head coach Steve Alford left after Miller's freshman year, he transferred to Butler. He started all 97 games over the next three years, finishing in the school's all-time top five in both made 3-point field goals and assists. During Miller's time at Butler, the team won three NCAA tournament games. Miller was named to multiple honorary teams for both his play and his academics. He won the Horizon League's highest individual honor, the Cecil M. Coleman Medal of Honor, and the 2003 Chip Hilton Award, given annual to the player who best exemplifies the values taught by the Chip Hilton literary character – leadership, character, and talent on and off the court.

After college, Miller entered into coaching as a video coordinator at Xavier. Subsequently, he held assistant coaching positions at Butler and then Ohio State before quitting basketball after the 2010–11 season to spend more time with his family. After a year, he returned to coaching as a special assistant to the head coach at Illinois. In April 2013, Miller rejoined the Butler staff as an assistant coach under Brad Stevens. When Stevens left to coach the Boston Celtics in July, Miller was promoted to head coach.

Early life Brandon Miller was born May 21, 1979, in New Castle, Indiana to Roger and Terry Miller. Miller was frequently injured as a child, usually from going "full tilt" in sports. At age four or five, he crashed his bike into a neighbor's house. In youth football, he broke his arm playing quarterback, then re-broke it diving for a loose ball in basketball. In junior high, he ran into a basket support while practicing baton exchanges, badly bloodying his face.

Miller grew up with basketball. His father, Roger Miller, was a teacher and assistant basketball coach at New Castle Chrysler High School. He was given a key to New Castle Fieldhouse – the nation's largest high school arena – and would often practice shooting by himself until 10 or 11 pm.

The 1994–95 New Castle Chrysler basketball team was loaded with returning juniors and seniors. No sophomores made the varsity team, but Brandon Miller did as a Freshman. That year, New Castle beat Alexandria in the opening round of the Semi-state playoffs with the help of Scott and Brandon Miller. The younger Miller later described it as one of his all-time favorite games.

The following season, Brandon Miller became the starting point guard. During Miller's junior year, New Castle achieved a 21–1 record and number 2 ranking entering the sectional playoffs. Miller scored a game highs of 20 and 17 points as he led his team to a sectional title. New Castle advanced through the regionals before being upset by Franklin in the Semi-states. Miller was selected to the All-State team as a high honorable mention. He was chosen as a member of the Junior All-Star squad.

As a senior, Miller tore a ligament in his knee. Knowing he could not damage it further, he continued to play on the injured knee through the playoffs. For the year, Miller shot 48 percent from the field and 73 percent on free throws. He was selected to the All-State team as a high honorable mention, and to the Herald-Times'''s All-State Second Team.

Miller ended his high school career with 1,066 points scored, a 60–11 record as a starter, and three semi-state appearances. He became the first New Castler player to win two North Central Conference championships. After the season, Alford left Southwest Missouri State to take the head coaching job at Iowa. With Alford gone, Miller decided to transfer to Butler to be closer to home. There, he was reunited with high school teammate Darnell Archey. Powered by strong play from Miller and fellow guards Thomas Jackson and LaVall Jordan, Butler built a 33-point lead over Wake Forest by halftime and cruised to a 79–63 victory. During the off-season, Miller had surgery to fix his shoulder.

During his senior season, Miller led the Bulldogs in both scoring and assists. "To hit a shot like that in the NCAA tournament, nothing compares to it," he remarked. "It's something you dream about when you're a kid. It's something you dream about when you're 23." Sports Illustrated called the game an "instant tourney classic" thanks to Miller's shot. It was Miller's fourth final-minute go-ahead basket of the season. Miller did not score against Louisville, but was instrumental in breaking down their pressure defense and getting Archey, who hit eight 3-pointers, open looks. "Brandon was just so terrific," said Butler coach Todd Lickliter. "He was just so tough."

Miller was named as a co-recipient of Butler's "Most Outstanding Male Athlete" award for his senior performance, and won the Horizon League's highest individual honor – the "Cecil M. Coleman Medal of Honor". As of 2013, he still ranks in the top 10 in both categories. In April 2007, he left Ohio State to join the Butler staff as an assistant coach.

At Butler, Miller was involved in recruiting, game preparation, player instruction, and on-court coaching. After a year off, Miller returned to coaching as a special assistant to Illinois head coach John Groce.

Head coach After Stevens left Butler to coach the Boston Celtics, Miller was promoted to head coach on July 6, 2013. Miller called it a childhood dream come true, and said he had no plans to change the team's core values. "The same goals we had a week ago are still our goals today", he remarked. He retained Butler's other assistant coaches – Michael Lewis and Terry Johnson – on his staff.

Reaction to the promotion of Miller was favorable. Jeff Goodman of ESPN predicted Miller would succeed because he is smart and "shares many of the same values and character traits" of past Butler coaches. Indianapolis Star'' reporter Bob Kravitz said the hire was exactly what one would expect from Butler and that it was "impossible" and "foolish" to argue that it was the wrong choice for the program. Speaking on behalf of the Butler players, Michael Volovic remarked "everyone is really excited to play for coach Miller."

After the announcement, Stevens called Miller "one of the best and brightest I've ever been around". Matta remarks "Brandon is a person I had the utmost respect for as a player and now have for as a coach." On January 2, 2015, Butler University announced that Miller would not be returning following his medical leave.

Head coaching record

Personal life As of July 2013, Miller and his wife Holly had two young sons, Mason Allen, then age 6, and Michael David, then age 4. The couple first met in eighth grade. Off the court, Miller is described as kind and "down-to-earth". Brandon's brother-in-law, Daniel Cox, is now the head coach of basketball at New Castle High School, Miller's alma mater.

Miller's older brother, Scott, is an optometrist. His younger sister, Lindsey, is nurse practitioner.