After working out one day at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Va., in November 2006, former college basketball player Michelle Miller asked if she could help coach the girls’ team. Little did she know what that impulse would lead to. Hired as an assistant, the 29-year-old soon became the head coach when her predecessor left in the middle of the season. After pledging to return as coach, Miller, a successful executive at an Internet domain company, was transferred to Denver.
Rather than back out of her commitment, Miller kept her word, registering massive frequent flyer miles by commuting from Denver. After failing to win a game last season, Miller and the Generals are 4-17. Before jumping onto yet another plane for tonight’s regular-season finale, the coach chatted with Denver Post staff writer Anthony Cotton:
Q: Do you ever think about how different your life would be if you hadn’t gone exercising that day in November?
A: Very different — I’d be nowhere near the Washington, D.C., area. Being with that program was really the only reason I was sticking around the area — I’d probably be living in Denver full time.
Q: Were you aware of the team’s situation?
A: No. I love basketball. When I was little, that’s what I wanted to do, coach. I had so many great coaches growing up who had a great impact on me, I’d just always wanted to give that back. I actually love working with the little guys — 7- and 8-year-olds. I had done clinics with them; to become a head coach unexpectedly is definitely a challenge.
Q: What has it been like?
A: We were 0-8 when I became the head coach last year. I had only done the clinics; I was very honest with the parents and everyone. I told them I wasn’t going to be the best head coach, and that I was going to mess up sometimes, but I would try my hardest and that I would care more about their girls than most coaches out there. But I admit that when I began, I was in over my head. There’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes — scheduling, administrative stuff.
Q: After the 0-22 season and the news that you were transferring to Denver, it seems like it would have been pretty easy to walk away from it.
A: Yeah — I think it was pretty easy for the last five coaches to walk away. There’s been a ton of (instability) in the program because people didn’t want to work; they didn’t realize how much work it is. I could have. . . . But it was important to me; there are a couple of kids who I thought could benefit if I stuck around. If I could do that, if I could even reach one and make a difference in her life, then it would be worth it.
Q: How many games and practices have you missed?
A: Probably four games, and maybe only four or five practices.
Q: Do your business co-workers understand this at all?
A: They’re more excited. My friends who coach know all the work behind it; my co-workers see all the fun parts — they’re asking about the team and our record.
Q: What would convince you to do it again next year?
A: The kids. Nothing else matters. Obviously the athletic director has to be OK with it, but if I don’t think it’s beneficial to the program or the kids aren’t benefiting from it, or I’m doing more harm than good, then that’s it, I won’t do it.
Top five
Five most memorable airports:
1. Reagan National. “For convenience and the shortest security lines, by far.”
2. Logan International. “I’ve never spent more time sitting around waiting for delayed flights.”
3. Denver International. “Where I get the best workouts — I never take the train from the terminal to the gates.”
4. Tokyo International. “The best shopping! Buying electronics is pretty cool.”
5. “All the rest are just a blur!”
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
