Men’s Basketball: Brandon Miller Returns to Ohio State – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Butler grad reunites with Matta, Buckeyes as assistant coach
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Brandon Miller, one of the most successful players in Butler basketball history, has returned to the Buckeyes as an assistant men’s basketball coach, Thad Matta, Ohio State head coach, announced Tuesday.
Miller returns to Columbus after spending one season at his alma mater as an assistant coach and three seasons on the Matta’s Ohio State staff (2005-2007).
As a member of the Butler coaching staff, Miller was involved in recruiting, skills instruction, game preparation and on-court coaching. His duties with the Buckeyes will be in a similar capacity.
“Brandon is a person I had the utmost respect for as a player and now have for as a coach,” Matta said. “I recruited him out of high school and coached him at Butler. He worked for me at Xavier and was crucial to the early success we experienced at Ohio State our first three years. He knows the collegiate game as a player having played in two NCAA Sweet 16’s and as a coach having been part of an Atlantic 10 Championship and an NCAA Elite Eight appearance, two Big Ten championships and an NCAA national championship game appearance. He has been part of our coaching family and knows how I operate and what my vision is for this program. Brandon is very passionate about Ohio State and what this university represents and I know he is thrilled to call Columbus home once again.”
Miller first joined the staff at Ohio State as director of basketball operations and he held that position for two seasons (2005, 2006). For the 2006-07 season, he assumed responsibilities as video coordinator for the program, providing team and opponent video scouting material for the Buckeyes’ staff. His final season at Ohio State saw the Buckeyes advance to the NCAA Final Four and finish runner-up to national champion Florida.
Miller first arrived at Butler in 1999, after spending one season on the basketball team at Southwest Missouri State. He sat out his first season and then started 97-consecutive games over his final three years with the Bulldogs. During his four years at Butler, the talented guard played on teams coached by Barry Collier, Matta and Todd Lickliter. He became one of just eight players in Butler basketball history to score over 1,000 points in just three seasons and he finished his Butler career with 1,121 points.
As a player, Miller helped Butler to a three-year record of 77-20 and three trips to postseason tournament play. As a senior, he led the Bulldogs in scoring and assists, while helping the team to a 27-6 record, a Horizon League championship and a trip the NCAA Sweet 16. He finished his career among Butler’s all-time leaders in 3-point field goals (189) and assists (305).
Miller was named Butler’s Co-Most Valuable Player in 2002-03, and later that year, he was named co-recipient of Butler’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete Award. He received the Horizon League’s 2002-03 Cecil M. Coleman Medal of Honor, the League’s highest individual award, and he was named recipient of the 2003 “Chip Hilton Award,” presented annually to the NCAA Division I player who demonstrates outstanding leadership, character, integrity, sportsmanship and talent. In 2006, he was named to the 15-player, Butler Team of the Sesquicentennial.
Miller earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Butler in 2003. He and his wife, Holly, have an infant son, Mason Allen.
The Miller File:
Name: Roger Brandon Miller
Birthdate: 5/21/79
Wife: Holly
Son: Mason Allen
High School: New Castle Chrysler (Ind.)
College: Butler University (Bachelor’s Degree, 03)
Sports Played: Basketball (Three varsity letters; team Co-MVP; All-Horizon League, Academic All-League; League All-Defensive Team)
Coaching Career:
Assistant Coach, Butler University, 2007-08
Assistant Coach, Ohio State University, 2008-present
