The Coach Who Teaches: How Molly Miller Is Inspiring Excellence

Everyone has different definitions of what leadership means on paper. Going from theory to reality isn’t always the same. Some have a hard time understanding what being a leader entails, few can explain the qualities needed to become a great leader, and even fewer can handle the job.

But there is one thing we can all agree on—when we examine a great leader in action, we say, that’s a leader.

When you watch this 1-minute and 27-second video of Molly Miller, the women's basketball coach at Grand Canyon University (GCU), it’s easy to understand why she has been so successful as a leader and was recently named the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Coach of the Year.

She lives and breathes leadership, inspiring others to follow her chosen path. The most important element of Miller’s leadership style is her understanding that she is, first and foremost, a teacher. She is extremely clear in her instructions, slowing down to ensure everyone grasps her message before recapping her key points. She demonstrates exceptional knowledge in her coaching, providing detailed analysis of how she wants her players to perform and the reasoning behind her points of emphasis. She is clear, concise, energized, and does not waste a second of time.

What separates her from most leaders isn’t just her knowledge—it’s her ability to communicate her message. Watching her lead is no different than watching a second-grade teacher develop young learners. Teaching second graders requires clarity, patience, and a deep understanding of their developmental stages. Miller embodies these qualities. She is straightforward in her expectations and knows how to ensure her players absorb and apply her message.

She breaks down her instructions into manageable steps, uses engaging methods to capture attention, and consistently reinforces key concepts. She never assumes everyone understands on the first attempt; instead, she repeats herself to make sure her players keep pace. She isn’t lecturing—she’s teaching.

And she teaches with humility. She creates an environment where her players feel free to ask questions and, most importantly, unafraid to make mistakes. She knows her audience—she never raises her voice, never gets angry—she simply keeps sharing her knowledge in bite-sized amounts. She fosters a culture of encouragement, celebrating progress and instilling a love of learning. By maintaining a structured yet flexible approach, she effectively guides her young players.

Miller’s players are fully engaged in her leadership. And their engagement is not by chance. It’s not because Grand Canyon University has state-of-the-art facilities or is offering massive NIL deals. She recruits players who share her mindset—players with an insatiable hunger to learn and improve.

The culture she is building has led to GCU winning the WAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships and advancing to their first-ever NCAA Tournament in program history.

Miller is an intense competitor, prompting her former coach, Nyla Milleson, to say:
"To this day, she’s the most competitive person I’ve ever been around."

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This video captures the essence of leadership.

Thank you, Coach Miller.

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