Coach Miller focusing on new season after winning national title

Pat Miler, UW-Whitewater men's basketball coach

UW-Whitewater men’s basketball coach Pat Miller knows quite a bit about winning championships. Miller was a co-captain on UW-Whitewater’s 1988-89 basketball team that captured the school’s second Division III national basketball title in school history.

Last March, Miller’s team won the national championship, becoming the first UWW coach to win a national title both as a player and a head coach.

The 2012 NCAA Division III Coach of the Year wants this year’s squad to put all its focus on this year instead of continuing to bask in the limelight of last spring’s national title victory.

"We were very adamant about that - even last spring. We have to turn the page," Miller indicated during preseason media day. Miller’s team finished 29-4 overall last season, including a 13-3 mark and regular season championship in WIAC play. "We don't let them wear any national championship clothes at practice or in the weight room. We're done with that - it's a new set of guys, it's new circumstances.

"If anything, last year, we learned how difficult that road is."

The Janesville native is now in his 12^th year as men’s basketball coach at Whitewater after being Dave Vander Meullen’s assistant for eight seasons.

Miller obviously learned coaching very well under the tutelage of the iconic Vander Meullen.

Miller has led the Warhawks to five WIAC Championships in his 11 years at the helm.  His .763 winning percentage ranks 4th all-time in WIAC history behind only Bo Ryan, Ken Anderson and Jack Bennett. He achieved his 100th win during the 2005-06 season and was the second fastest coach in WIAC history to do so. 

Coach Miller enters tonight’s game vs. Beloit College as the winningest active coach in the WIAC.   His 238-74 career mark ranks 11^th all-time in WIAC history.