Two of the best in the business!World Champion Seattle Storm Head Coach Brian Agler with Coach Curt Miller
What better sign of the national attention and respect Coach Miller has brought to himself and the BGSU Women’s Basketball program than a visit by Brian Agler, the Head Coach of the WNBA’s World Champion Seattle Storm, less than 3 weeks after winning the championship!
This “meeting of the minds” started back in April, when Coach Agler asked Coach Miller to meet with him and his staff to talk about our ball screening offense. Agler was so happy with the offense and what Seattle was doing with it that he, in turn, invited Coach Miller and staff out to watch Seattle play the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis early in the Fall. The staff went to Seattle’s shootaround that day, and were guests of the Storm at the game. So it was only natural that Coach Agler was in Northwest Ohio to view the Falcons’ practice and trade coaching secrets with BGSU head coach Curt Miller.
“It was an honor to have Coach Agler visit our practice,” said Coach Miller. “I always look forward to spending time with him, talking X’s and O’s and coaching strategy. Seattle has one of the finest pick-and-roll games in the WNBA, with Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird. They are the best of the best, and I am excited to have the chance to pick his brain about the pick-and-roll offense.“
Additionally, it was great of Coach Agler to take a few moments and talk to the team after practice. Any time you get a chance to talk with someone who has reached the pinnacle of his profession, it is truly an honor. I look forward to hearing his critique of our team.”
Agler, a graduate of Wittenberg University, has coached collegiately at UMKC and Kansas State, among other schools, and also has guided several teams at the professional level. He led the Columbus Quest to American Basketball League titles in both 1997 and 1998, and had an 82-22 record there. He also was the first coach of the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx.
“Last year, I asked Curt to spend some time with me and my staff,” said Agler, who had a .648 winning percentage as a collegiate head coach. “We are always looking to try to get better. Our league is so competitive that, if you are not always striving to get better, you can fall behind quickly.
“Curt was very hospitable, making time to speak with us at the Final Four. With players like Lauren and Sue on our team, we wanted to incorporate more pick and roll. We did adapt it and we did improve offensively, and things worked out for us this season. I am back here (meeting with Miller) so that I can keep getting better on a daily basis.”
A pre-season national ranking of #17, Lauren Prochaska listed as one of 30 players to watch for the Wooden Award, and a visit from the World Champion Head Coach of the Seattle Storm to learn more about our offense. For a program at the “Mid-Major” level, BGSU Women’s Basketball continues to garner NATIONAL respect!
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