FORT COLLINS, Colo.-
Colorado State’s new coach Tim Miles said Thursday that he “wants to compete with the big boys,” but was tearful when he talked about leaving North Dakota State.
“Last night I met with some guys (at North Dakota State) that mean a lot to me,” Miles said during a news conference. “I’m not going to coach them any more. I am going to miss them. They are going to do well.”
Miles was 99-71 in six years at North Dakota State. Previously, he was 78-39 in four years at Southwest Minnesota State and 35-22 in two years at Mayville State.
Colorado State signed him to a five-year contract. The financial terms weren’t disclosed.
“But today is about the future and today is about putting Colorado State on the national map. As I look at this job I see great intangibles, I see great resources, I see great prospects,” Miles said.
He replaces Dale Layer, who was fired.
“In my eyes, Dale Layer is a great man, he did wonderful things and a change has happened. And we will resist the urge of comparison,” Miles said. “What my job to do is to come in and establish a winning mentality in our basketball program.”
That’s what Colorado State President Larry Penley expects from the new coach.
“We expect him to win. We expect him to win not only our conference, but we expect him in March to be at the NCAA Tournament where we’re not today,” Penley said.
Greg Stemen, head coach at Southwest Minnesota State, where he worked with Miles for two years, said Miles has strengthened the basketball program at every school where he’s coached.
“Whether it’s been at the NAIA level, the Division II level or in the case where North Dakota State was Division II and transitioned into Division I, everywhere he’s gone he’s built those programs and strengthened those programs and made them championship-caliber programs,” Stemen said.
Under Miles, North Dakota State beat Wisconsin and Marquette, and Stemen said those victories were not flukes.
“He’s a great game coach,” Stemen said. “He makes adjustments during the game, prepares and game plans exceptionally well for specific opponents.”
Myron Guillory, an assistant under Layer, said the Rams are familiar with Miles after narrowly beating his team 82-80 in December.
“We know him and we know what he can do,” Guillory said. “We played him a couple of times.”
Guillory said he hoped to stay on under Miles but had not spoken to him yet.
Layer was fired March 12 after the Rams went 17-13 overall and 6-10 in the Mountain West Conference, finishing sixth.
Layer was 103-106 in seven years. He had a year left on his contract.
“I just heard the news this morning. We’ll have to wait and see how things will be. I’ve never been through a coaching change. Never,” said forward Jason Smith. But he added, “I think our team will react really well.”
