Following-up on something that I mentioned over the weekend (D3 DIRT). The change at Alvernia is now official – here’s the statement that the school issued today:

Alvernia University director of athletics Bill Stiles and Mike Miller announced on Monday the retirement of Miller as the men’s basketball head coach and assistant director of athletics, effective immediately.
 
Miller took over as the head coach of the men’s basketball program prior to the 2004-05 season following ten years serving as the assistant to Jack McCloskey. During his 19 seasons at the helm of Alvernia Men’s Basketball, Miller has amassed a 315-178 record. He surpassed McCloskey as Alvernia’s winningest coach in program history with his 228th career win back during the 2016-17 season, and he picked up his 300th career win this past season.
 
“Mike Miller was directly involved in some of the most historic moments in Alvernia history,” said Stiles. “The 1997 NCAA DIII Final Four, the multiple PAC and MAC Championships, and all of the individual men’s basketball success stories that have graced the wall of the Physical Education Center. All of that on top of his successes at Reading High – he is truly a legend.”
 
Miller has led Alvernia to 12 conference playoff appearances, including a regular season MAC Commonwealth title in 2022-23 and a top-seed in the MAC Commonwealth tournament. Alvernia has won six conference titles under Miller, including four MAC Commonwealth titles in five years during the span of the 2010-11 season through the 2014-15 season. The 2014 MAC Commonwealth Championship came on an off-balance buzzer-beating shot by Charles Cooper to win the game as time expired at Stevenson. The shot landed Cooper and Alvernia on ESPN and SportsCenter’s Top-Ten plays series. Alvernia has also made the NCAA tournament six times under Miller, and made it to the NCAA second round in 2012-13 season.
 
“It has been a great career – not because of the championships, but the players that played for me that went on to become doctors, nurses, state police officers, teachers, and accountants. Plus, another 20 or so that got involved with coaching at all levels,” said Miller. “I would like to thank Jack McCloskey for hiring me as an assistant, where I learned the college game from him. I also want to thank Bill Stiles and John McCloskey who guided me and supported me throughout my career.”
 
Miller has coached 11 1,000-point scorers during his time as the head coach of Alvernia. He coached an additional four 1,000-point scorers while serving as an assistant coach. Miller has also coached four PAC Players of the Year and three MAC Commonwealth Players of the Year – including Malik Green who earned the honor this past season. He coached Avery Walker, who was the first ever recipient of the MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year honor. Walker went on to earn that award for a second time in his senior year. Miller coached 27 All-MAC Commonwealth honorees, including 12 first teamers, as well 13 All-PAC (8 first team) honorees.
 
“In addition to all of the wins, one thing that never got enough attention was the character of the student-athletes that he recruited and coached,” added Stiles. “I can count on one hand the issues we had with men’s basketball players during Mike’s tenure. His teams were disciplined, played hard, succeeded in the classroom, and were fun to watch.”
 
Miller arrived at Alvernia after a record-breaking career at Reading High School that spanned from 1988-1994. During his six years as head coach at Reading High he compiled a record of 145-31 and led the Red Knights to four consecutive Berks County championships. During that championship run Miller’s teams had a record breaking 60 consecutive victories vs. Berks County opponents.
 
Miller was inducted in the Pennsylvania (Berks County Chapter) Hall of Fame in 2009 and is also a member of the Reading High Hall of Fame and Berks Catholic Hall of Fame.
 
Miller is a 1976 graduate of Holy Name (now Berks Catholic) and played collegiately at Delaware Valley. He started his coaching career at Kutztown High School before beginning his stint at Reading High.
 
“It has truly been my pleasure to work with Mike these past 15 years,” added Stiles. “I cannot thank him enough for what he has done for Alvernia University and me.”
 
Miller’s son, Mike Miller Jr., will serve as Head Coach for the upcoming 2023-24. Miller Jr., has served as Miller’s assistant coach since graduating from Alvernia in 2018. Miller Jr. was a 1,000-point scorer (1,251 points) under his father and is the Alvernia career leader in 3-pointers made. Miller Jr. graduated from Alvernia in 2018 with a degree in Sport Management.
 
“As far as Miller Jr., he did all of the recruiting the last five years and became more involved with day-to-day operations,” said Miller. “As a 1,000 point scorer and two-time MAC Champion, he knows what it takes.”
 
“I’m very humbled and grateful for the opportunity to be the next head men’s basketball coach at Alvernia,” said Miller. Jr. ” I’ve learned a lot over the years from my father, as an assistant coach and as a player. My father, and Coach Mccloskey before him, made Alvernia Basketball one of the top programs in the region on and off the court. I’m honored to be able to follow in their footsteps, and I hope I can keep that winning tradition alive moving forward.”