Full Media Guide Bio
Ryan Miller is in his second season as a coach with the UNLV men's basketball program and is in his first as associate head coach. He has had a major role in assembling the talent on UNLV's roster as its 2014 recruiting class was ranked the fifth-best in the nation by Rivals.com, while the 2015 class has been ranked No. 11.
The 2014 edition included the No. 17 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft - Rashad Vaughn. Christian Wood, who is with the Philadelphia 76ers, also played at UNLV with Miller on the coaching staff.
Miller, 40, joined the UNLV staff after spending the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons as associate head coach at Auburn under Tony Barbee.
Prior to his time in Ala., he spent five years (2007-12) as an assistant coach at New Mexico under Steve Alford.
During Miller's time with the Lobos, the team went 126-46 and made five consecutive postseason appearances, including a pair of NCAA Tournament berths. UNM also won two regular-season Mountain West championships and one league tournament crown with Miller on staff.
Miller has been widely recognized as one of the top recruiters in college basketball. In addition to his contacts throughout the United States, he also has had success recruiting foreign countries including Australia, where he also played competitively.
Miller was also a basketball operations assistant at Memphis under John Calipari from 2004-06. During his three years with the Tigers, they went 78-28 and made three postseason tournament appearances, including two NCAA Tournaments. Miller also spent one year (2006-07) as an assistant coach at Pepperdine before joining the New Mexico staff.
A native of Mitchell, S.D., Miller attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., where he was a two-time Northern Sun All-Conference selection. He finished his career eighth on Northern State's all-time scoring list after leading his teams to four straight conference championships and the 1998 regional title. He was named a Division II All-American and an Academic All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference member as a senior in 1997-98.
In the 1998 North Central Region Championship, Miller scored 45 points, including nine 3-pointers, leading Northern State to an 88-82 victory over South Dakota State to advance to its first Elite Eight in Louisville, Ky.
Miller was drafted by the CBA in 1999 and played professionally for the Fargo-Moorhead Beez of the International Basketball Association that season. He also played for the Dakota Gold of the IBA where he served as player/assistant coach during the 2000-01 season.
He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Northern State in 2000. He attended Mitchell (S.D.) High School where he was a two-time all-state selection, leading the school to the 1994 state championship. His brother, Mike, is a 15-year NBA veteran who won the 2012 and 2013 NBA Championship as a member of the Miami Heat.
Miller and his wife, Marna, have one daughter: Melia (14).
