Wes Miller

Warren Weston "Wes" Miller (born January 28, 1983) is an American basketball coach and former player. Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, he played at the collegiate level for James Madison University and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, where he graduated in 2007. Professionally, Miller played for London Capitals of the British Basketball League.

Miller holds the position of head coach at UNC Greensboro. He was asked to step in for former coach Mike Dement after he resigned on December 13, 2011. Previously, he was an assistant coach at Elon University under head coach, Ernie Nestor, for the 2008-2009 season. After that, Miller was also an assistant coach under Scott Cherry, a former UNC player, for the 2009-2010 season.

The Road to Blue Heaven

Upon transferring to the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Wes Miller successfully walked-on to the basketball team.^[1] He was redshirted for the 2003-2004 season. Miller played on the Tar Heel team that won the 2005 National Championship. He graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in political science and after graduation he wrote a book titled The Road to Blue Heaven about his road to the University of North Carolina and his years playing there.^[2]

The Road to Blue Heaven tells Wes Miller's story as a Tar Heel and what it took him to get there. He didn't have a scholarship and recruiters looked past him at other players who stand around 6-foot or taller. After spending a year at the mid-major program, James Madison University, Miller decided to take his chances, without a basketball scholarship, and transfer to the University of North Carolina. Due to Miller's hard work he earned a starting position as a Junior. Miller's book is a glimpse into what his life was like.

Coaching career

After playing professionally overseas in England for a year, Wes Miller was hired as an assistant coach at Elon University. He was overseen by head coach, Ernie Nestor. Together, Nestor and Miller's team finished the 2008-2009 season with a record of 12-19. This also happened to be Ernie Nestor's final year with Elon.

After spending a year with Elon University, Miller took another assistant coach position at High Point University. He joined the staff of their new head coach, Scott Cherry. Upon hiring Wes, Cherry was positive about adding him to his staff: "Wes is young, energetic and works extremely hard, He is a guy that relates well to the players because of his age, When you are recruiting your staff and trying to figure out who would be the best to work alongside of you, I think you always want a guy who is a winner. Wes is definitely a winner and somebody who will work hard and I can't be happier to have him on my staff." Coach Cherry and Coach Miller finished the 2009-2010 season 15-15.

For the 2010-2011 basketball season, Miller relocated yet again to another university. He became the assistant coach to Mike Dement at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. He filled the position after Rod Jensen resigned to take the position of head coach in Idaho. Together, they took their team 7-24 and got fifth place in the Southern Conference.

During the 2011-2012 season, Mike Dement and Athletics Director Kim Record came to a mutual agreement and Dement resigned. Wes Miller became the interim head coach for the Spartans. When Miller took over, the team had a record of 2-8 and had an eleven-game losing streak. Miller led the Spartans to a 10-8 record in Southern Conference play on his own and a 13-19 record overall. They won first place in the Southern Conference North Division. Miller also received the Coach of the Year award.

On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 4:30pm, the University of North Carolina Greensboro scheduled a press conference to announce that Wes Miller would now be the full-time head coach. Upon receiving the top job at UNCG, Miller hired former teammate Jackie Manuel to his staff. He, along with Mike Roberts are Miller's first two hired assistants. Miller is set to begin his first season as head coach on November 3, 2012 versus Bluefield State.

College statistics

Source^[3]

Head coaching record

References

External links

• Wes Miller as UNCG assistant coach