The University of Rio Grande has named Ron Miller as its new men’s basketball head coach. School officials made the announcement Monday evening.
Miller spent the past three seasons as the head coach at Ohio Christian University, where he compiled a 67-26 record. The Trailblazers finished their 2025-26 campaign with a 28-5 record after posting a 1-2 finish in last week’s National Christian College Athletic Association National Championship. The two losses were by four points combined.
Miller replaces Ryan Arrowood, who was let go by the school on March 9 after six seasons at the helm.
“I’m incredibly grateful to (Rio Grande Athletic Director) Jeff Lanham, (Rio Grande Asst. AD) Brandon Bias, and President Ryan Smith for the opportunity to lead this program,” Miller said. “Rio Grande has a rich basketball tradition and it’s an honor to be part of a place that values winning, player development and doing things the right way. I’m excited to get to work and build on that foundation.”
Prior to his stint at OCU, Miller was an assistant coach at Malone University from 2016-2022. While there, he obtained a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and helped take the Pioneers to a 2020-21 G-MAC Conference Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Miller earned his undergraduate degree in Education from Alderson Broaddus (WV) University, where he was a varsity basketball player for four years. During that time period, the Battlers won two regular season championships and a pair of conference tournament championships. Miller then served on the coaching staff at Alderson Broaddus in the fall of 2016 before beginning his time at Malone.
“Our program will be built on brotherhood, toughness and a relentless standard of daily work,” said Miller. “We’re going to play with great pace, physicality and a level of effort that puts constant pressure on our opponents. Every day in our gym will be competitive, demanding and focused on developing our players at an elite level.”
Lanham said that, despite a rapid interview process, he’s confident the RedStorm identified the right candidate for the position.
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Coach Miller to the University of Rio Grande,” said Lanham. “He’s passionate, he’s driven and he cares deeply about the student‑athlete experience. He’s committed to building a culture rooted in hard work, accountability and genuine care.”
Miller, who coached Strasburg (OH) High School to an 18-7 record and a sectional championship in between his time at Malone and Ohio Christian, said he’s well aware of the task which awaits him. “The expectation is to compete at the top of the River States Conference and on the national level in the NAIA,” he said “We’re going to develop players who are prepared to succeed on the court, in the classroom and in life. Just as important, we want to build a program that the Rio community and alumni are proud to support and rally behind. We’re going to bring great energy to this program every single day and I’m excited to get started.”
Miller also conducted his own summer skills camps while in college, while gaining coaching experience working for Point Guard College.
“He’s a relationship‑driven coach who knows how to motivate, teach and inspire,” Lanham said. “We’re thrilled for what he will bring to our program and to the Rio Grande community.”
