LAS VEGAS - Former Western Illinois University head women's basketball coach Regina Miller has been named head coach of the UNLV Lady Rebels basketball program, the UNLV Department of Athletics announced Tuesday.

The hiring completes an exhaustive national search to find a new head coach after former coach LaDonna McClain stepped down on Feb. 2.

Miller comes to UNLV after spending the last six seasons (1992-98) as the head coach at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill. While at WIU, she led the Westerwinds to the1995 regular season and post-season conference championships, and the NCAA Tournament. She also was honored as the 1995 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's Coach of the Year.

Prior to earning the post at WIU where she compiled a record of 60-100, Miller spent five years as an assistant coach at her alma mater and national power Old Dominion from 1987-92. ODU reached the NCAA Tournament four of the five years she was there. She landed her first assistant coaching position at Arizona (1986-87) and spent two years (1985-86) as a graduate assistant at Western Kentucky as it made the Final Four both years she was there.

In addition to Miller's experience at the college level, she has been an international coach as well. She served as an assistant coach for the USA National Team at the 1997 World Championships Qualifier in Palo, Brazil, and she was the floor coach for the U.S. Olympic Festival's North Team Tryouts in 1995.

"The quality of the field of candidates improved dramatically from the last time that we searched for a coach," UNLV Director of Athletics Charles Cavagnaro said. "I think the main reasons are that we are now in the WAC and the NCAA probation issues no longer exist.

"We are extremely excited about Coach Miller and the future of women's basketball at UNLV. She has a wide range of experience, which is rooted in the upper levels of NCAA women's basketball and is very impressive. Her international coaching experience is just icing on the cake. The search committee that we put together was of enormous assistance and was greatly appreciated."

"You have hit the jackpot," Nancy Lieberman-Cline, General Manager and Head Coach of the WBNA's Detroit Shock said when asked about Miller. "How appropriate for the city. She is one of the finest people you could ever hire and she is a fantastic coach. Players love to play for her, she communicates well and she was an exceptional player. If she wasn't coaching in college, I would have hired her here at Detroit. She is the type of person you want out front to represent the university. Give her time and she will build a solid tradition in Las Vegas."

Prior to playing professionally for the Virginia Waves in 1984, Miller spent two years playing at Old Dominion helping lead the Lady Monarchs to the NCAA Final Four. Prior to attending ODU, she played at Louisburg (N.C.) Junior College where she earned All-American honors.

Miller is a 1984 graduate of Old Dominion with a bachelor's degree in recreation and earned her master's degree from Western Kentucky in 1986.

REGINA MILLER'S CAREER HEAD COACHING RECORD

Year/Record

1992-93/3-21

1993-94/15-13

1994-95/17-11 -- Mid-Continent Conference Champions

1995-96/10-17

1996-97/7-20

1997-98/8-18