The biggest reason for the Mountaineers success over the past four seasons has been the efforts of head coach Rich Miller both on and off the court.

Entering his fifth season as the head coach for the Mountaineers,  Miller has displayed the strong coaching and recruiting skills that helped make Mansfield one of  the most exciting teams in the PSAC.

Now in his 11th season as part or the Mountaineer coaching staff, Miller served as assistant coach for six seasons before being promoted to head coach in 2005. 

In his first year at the helm of the program, the Mountaineers reached the PSAC playoffs while narrowly missing a playoff berth in the final game of the season in each of the next two seasons. Mansfield returned to the PSAC playoffs in 2008-09 for the second time in Miller's first four seasons as head coach..

Miller's team have ranked among the PSAC scoring leaders each season of his tenure, displaying a exciting up-tempo game that's enjoyable to players and fans alike.

Considered one of the top young coaches in the PSAC, Miller's team are respected throughout the conference for their competitive nature -- a trait shared by the coaching staff.

Miller's players have been successful off the court as well with every senior in his first three seasons as head coach earning a degree.

Miller served as a volunteer assistant for the Mountaineers during the 1998-99 season after playing one season as a graduate student in 1997-98. A tireless player and 3-point specialist, Miller earned PSAC East Rookie of the Week honors while averaging 6.8 points per game during the season.

A native of Harrisburg, PA, Miller graduated from Bucknell University in 1996 where he was a four-year starter for the Bison's football team as a kicker and punter, earning All-Patroit League honors. He also played two seasons of junior varsity basketball for the Bison. Miller earned his MS from Mansfield in 1999.

Miller began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater Lower Dauphin High School in 1996-97. A 1993 graduate, Miller received all-conference honors in basketball, baseball and football during his junior and senior seasons and is the second leading scorer in the school's basketball history.

Miller has strong roots in the Mansfield area. His grandfather Warren was an outstanding athlete at Mansfield University and the elementary school in town is named in his honor. His father, and assistant on the Mountaineer staff Rich Sr., is also a Mansfield alum and coached the Mansfield High School basketball team from 1967-72 directing the Tigers to a state championship in 1970.

Coach Miller and his wife Julie live in Mansfield with their daughter Elizabeth and son Evan.

* Denotes PSAC Playoff berth

Coach Miller can be reached at:
Decker Gymnasium
Mansfield University
Mansfield, Pa. 16933
(570) 662-4862
E-mail: crmiller@mansfield.edu